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The performance of Ephiffony on South Side Nativity opens with the orchestral movement, “Miryam Baby Mama.”  The premise imagines, “If the immaculate conception occurred today on the South Side of Chicago with questions about the “Baby Daddy,” then Miryam (better known as Mary) would be tagged with the euphemism, “Baby Mama.”  This piece elevates the, so called, “Baby Mama” by recognizing that she, like every mother, is “a portal of change” as every newborn child has the potentiality to positively impact and change the world. Also, Miryam is given a voice in the song; as women are very rarely heard to speak in scripture, but are, rather, spoken of.

The second movement, “Mama’s Baby Postlude” transitions into a downtempo 60-bpm, Hip-hop groove that recalls the Biblical question, “What good thing could come from Nazareth? That is juxtaposed with the same question about another infamously dangerous locality called Englewood, also on Chicago’s South Side. The comparative analysis goes further to correlate the suffering of the Messiah on the cross with the suffering of African victims of human trafficking during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and their subsequent lynching during the Jim Crow era. McKee explains, “This song cycle wrestles with the confusion surrounding the question, how does our relationship play out with a God who allowed such suffering to occur to a people?”

The final movement, “I Am Persuaded” is a World Beat anthem that brings a resolution of the dilemma between the integrity of one’s faith placed along side of the level of one’s suffering. The sound bytes from Romans 8:38 speak to the same decision that many persecuted people have arrived at:  “Keep your eye on the prize and hold on,” regardless of the storms and trials because, in the end, “This is only a test.”

“This music and message is as relevant for Watch Night, Black History Month, Resurrection Day, Mother”s Day and Juneteeth as it is for the Advent season.”

The South Side Nativity trilogy by EPIHFFONY features the last recording of the late jazz vocalist, Chris Murrell who spent 18-years with the Count Basie Orchestra. This incarnation of Ephiffony includes the debut recording of 14-year old vocalist, Ajene Cooks (member of the group Young Diva Young Divo). Featured as an Opera Diva is  Sonic Portraits Jazz recording artist, jazz vocalist, Laura Walls (the voice of Miryam). There are cameo appearances by rapper B3 and spoken-word artistry and vocals by Dr. Marshall Hatch (who is second in command of Operation Push under Jessie Jackson).  Robert Irving III directs the performance of his Sonic Portraits Orchestra with special guest appearances by award winning percussionist, Sir Kahil El Zabar, harpist Jordan Thomas, Haitian piccolo player/flutist Nathelie Joachim from The Eight Blackbird and 16-year old classical piano prodigy, Joshua Mhoon.

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