Canadian Songbook, a documentary-style podcast

A Soulful New Podcast Explores Canada’s Rich Musical Roots, One Story at a Time

TORONTO, ON — Dive into a powerful blend of melody, memory, and mentorship with Canadian Songbook, a new documentary-style podcast hosted by Juno-winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini. With a heartbeat that spans opera houses, smoky jazz clubs, and summer music camps, each episode weaves a rich narrative of Canada’s vibrant musical tapestry—told through the voices of the artists who shape it.

“This podcast is about more than just music,” says Cervini. “It’s about the ways music helps us find our voice, our people, our purpose.”

© courtesy Ernesto Cervini

Told in warm, candid conversations, Canadian Songbook features a dynamic lineup of artists including Barenaked Ladies’ founding member Jim Creeggan, Grammy-winning baritone Elliot Madore, celebrated saxophonist Tara Davidson, Canadian music advocate Holly Nimmons, composer and bandleader Allison Au, and jazz icon and educator Mike Murley. Each episode tells a story of identity, heritage, and transformation through art.


Journey Highlights:

Jim Creeggan, bassist for the Barenaked Ladies, tells a story drenched in community and curiosity. From singing harmonies at church to music camp jam sessions, he found his voice not in competition, but in collaboration. “Support is everything,” he says. “Music is about being with people—live, in real time.” His reflections reveal the power of shared creative space and the lifelong friendships that bloom from it.

Mike Murley, one of Canada's most respected saxophonists and educators, reflects on a lifetime shaped by melody and mentorship in an episode that's a moving tribute to teaching, tradition, and finding your voice through jazz. Listeners hear about his early inspiration from a Nova Scotia band program, formative encounters with the Boss Brass and Phil Nimmons, and how a Canada Council grant helped him study with Dave Liebman in New York, "learning how to juggle all of those things and feeling what that was like at a young age, helped me a lot,” Murley says. His journey bridges rural band rooms, busking in Europe with the Shuffle Demons, and recording lyrical improvisations with some of the world’s best.

Elliot Madore recalls spiritual awakenings in childhood choirs and how singing Brahms at 10 made him feel “like an outlier in my family.” His path from the Etobicoke Youth Choir to the Curtis Institute and eventually to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera is as thrilling as it is inspiring. “Some of the most profound musical experiences I’ve ever had were in those choirs in Toronto,” he shares, reflecting on the “magical” feeling of voices merging into harmony.

Tara Davidson, a jazz saxophonist raised in Brampton, opens up about the shy beginnings that music helped her overcome. “Music gave me self-confidence when I didn’t even know I needed it,” she says. A pivotal moment came when, as a teen, she asked Ernesto’s sister for improv tips—leading her to study with the legendary Mike Murley. From there, her path blossomed into decades of musical camaraderie and leadership in ensembles like the Carn Davidson 9.

Holly Nimmons, CEO of the Canadian Music Centre and daughter of jazz icon Phil Nimmons, grew up in a house pulsing with creativity. “I didn’t come into music—I was born out of it,” she muses. Now, she channels that upbringing into a passionate advocacy for Canadian composers, launching projects like “The Story of Us,” which helps youth compose with found sound and field recordings. “What we need now is community and curiosity,” she says. “Music gives us both.”

Allison Au shares the surprising detour that led her to jazz: she didn’t attend a traditional music high school and nearly pursued forensic science. But one spontaneous audition for Humber College changed everything. “My goal was to create a band where I could try things, even if they failed,” she says. That risk led to Juno wins, national recognition, and a new album that blends jazz with her family's migration stories from Poland and Malaysia.

Each episode of Canadian Songbook invites listeners into an intimate portrait of a life shaped by sound. Whether you're drawn to stories of growth and transformation, curious about creative culture, or simply interested in the lives behind Canada's creative scene, this podcast offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of what it means to grow through music in Canada.

Listen Now: 

Available June 11th, 2025 wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://canadiansongbook.ca for full episodes and more.