Canadian Songbook
Canadian Songbook
Podcast Description
Canadian Songbook is a documentary-style podcast hosted by Juno-winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini, celebrating the diverse voices that define Canada's musical landscape. From opera stars and jazz artists to music educators and community leaders, each episode explores how music has shaped the life of one guest at a time, across generations and geographies.
Told through candid conversations and warm storytelling, these are the journeys of real people—musicians who honed their voice and found connection in childhood choirs, high school bands, smoky jazz clubs, and summer music camps. You’ll hear how one person's family, heritage, and community helped forge their path to international stages—and how collaboration, creativity, and mentorship continue to shape their uniquely Canadian sound.
Whether you are drawn to stories of growth and transformation, curious about creative culture, or simply interested in the lives behind Canada's creative scene, Canadian Songbook offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of what it means to grow through music in Canada.
🎵 This podcast is a growing archive of voices and visions, rooted in rhythm, memory, and home.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on a variety of themes such as personal growth through music, the influence of community and heritage, and the evolution of artistic expression. Episodes include stories of musicians like Jim Creeggan, detailing his journey from informal jam sessions to arena performances, and Mike Murley, exploring the transformative power of jazz in different cultural settings.

Canadian Songbook is a documentary-style podcast hosted by Juno-winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini, celebrating the diverse voices that define Canada’s musical landscape. From opera stars and jazz artists to music educators and community leaders, each episode explores how music has shaped the life of one guest at a time, across generations and geographies.
Told through candid conversations and warm storytelling, these are the journeys of real people—musicians who honed their voice and found connection in childhood choirs, high school bands, smoky jazz clubs, and summer music camps. You’ll hear how one person’s family, heritage, and community helped forge their path to international stages—and how collaboration, creativity, and mentorship continue to shape their uniquely Canadian sound.
Whether you are drawn to stories of growth and transformation, curious about creative culture, or simply interested in the lives behind Canada’s creative scene, Canadian Songbook offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of what it means to grow through music in Canada.
🎵 This podcast is a growing archive of voices and visions, rooted in rhythm, memory, and home.
In this episode, saxophonist Tara Davidson joins longtime friend and collaborator Ernesto Cervini for a conversation about memories, music, and the quiet courage of coming into one’s own. From early piano lessons that ended in tears to a formative encounter with Mike Murley in high school, Davidson traces how a shy kid from Brampton, encouraged by a jazz-loving father, grew into one of Canada’s most respected jazz voices. The conversation explores the roots of her many long-standing collaborations, including co-leading the genre-blurring Carn Davidson 9 and performing in Turboprop, led by Cervini, where she found herself pushed physically and musically into new territory. Through laughter and tender reflection, Davidson shares how melody, mentorship, and community continue to shape her evolving sound, offering a portrait of growth grounded in trust, grit, and joy.

Disclaimer
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