Featured Release

Steven Feifke — The Same River

Album Overview

Steven Feifke brings together fourteen years of musical relationships on The Same River, his tenth album as a bandleader. The recording centers on his big band and the musicians who have contributed to its development, combining original compositions, new arrangements, and featured performances that reflect the ensemble’s evolving musical identity.

The album reconnects Feifke with longtime collaborators while introducing different perspectives through its featured artists. Saxophonist Braxton Cook, an original member of the big band, returns with his composition “No Doubt,” newly arranged by Feifke. Multi-instrumentalist Blue Lou Marini appears on two compositions previously recorded for their 2025 collaboration Point of View, now reconsidered for big band. Vocalist Alita Moses joins the ensemble for “Save Your Love For Me,” arranged originally by bassist Raviv Markovitz and subsequently orchestrated and co-arranged by Feifke.

The album’s title draws on the philosopher Heraclitus and the idea that both people and their surroundings continually change. Feifke’s title composition, commissioned by Wynton Marsalis for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, provides a musical point of reference for an album concerned with continuity, change, and the creative relationships that develop within an ensemble.

From the album…

“No Doubt” brings saxophonist Braxton Cook back into the ensemble where he began an important part of his musical development. An original member of Feifke’s big band, Cook contributes his own composition, arranged by Feifke specifically for this recording.

The piece places Cook’s writing within a larger orchestral setting, expanding the composition through the instrumental resources of the big band. Guitarist Alex Wintz also appears as a featured musician, adding another individual voice to the ensemble.

At just over seven minutes, “No Doubt” offers a direct introduction to the album’s central idea: musicians returning to familiar creative partnerships while discovering new possibilities through arrangement and collaboration.

Listen to the album

Recommended listening: Start with “No Doubt,” featuring Braxton Cook and Alex Wintz, to hear Feifke’s big-band arrangement of Cook’s composition. Continue with the title track, “The Same River,” originally commissioned for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, then explore “Orama (Almost Empty)” and “…Which Is It?” to hear how Feifke revisits material from his collaboration with Blue Lou Marini.

Album Details

Artist: Steven Feifke
Album: The Same River
Label: La Reserve Records, LLC
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Featured Track: No Doubt — 7:01
Total Runtime: 1:16:16

Personnel

Bandleader / Rhythm Section

• Steven Feifke — piano, bandleader
• Alex Wintz — guitar
• Raviv Markovitz — double bass
• Jimmy Macbride — drums

Vocals

• Alita Moses — vocals

Saxophones

• Andrew Gould — alto saxophone
• Veronica Leahy — alto saxophone
• Alexa Tarantino — alto saxophone
• Lucas Pino — tenor saxophone
• Sam Dillon — tenor saxophone
• Andrew Gutauskas — baritone saxophone
• Carl Maraghi — baritone saxophone

Trumpets

• Sam Hoyt
• John Lake
• Benny Benack III
• Gabriel (Gabe) Medd

Trombones

• Robert Edwards — trombone
• James Burton III — trombone
• Grace Rock — trombone
• Jennifer Wharton — bass trombone

Additional Guests

• Sherman Irby — saxophone
• Jake Goldbas — drums
• Christian Wiggs — vocals

Recording / Production Details

The album features Feifke’s big band and guest musicians drawn from his longstanding musical collaborations.

The title composition was originally commissioned by Wynton Marsalis for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and premiered in April 2025 as part of Contemporary Masterpieces.

“No Doubt” was composed by Braxton Cook and arranged for big band by Steven Feifke.

“Save Your Love For Me” was originally arranged by Raviv Markovitz, with additional arranging and orchestration by Feifke.

Track Listing

1. The Same River — 7:49
2. No Doubt — 7:01
3. Doctor Trouble — 9:54
4. You and Me — 6:48
5. Goulden Ratio — 9:13
6. Orama (Almost Empty) — 9:47
7. Save Your Love For Me — 7:13
8. Bounce — 7:36
9. …Which Is It? — 10:55