Holly Nimmons
In this episode, Ernesto Cervini sits down with arts advocate and Canadian Music Centre CEO Holly Nimmons for a conversation that weaves music, memory, and social change into one remarkable story. Born into a home where jam sessions happened beside the bassinet and artistry was woven into daily life, Nimmons shares what it meant to grow up as the daughter of legendary Canadian bandleader and educator Phil Nimmons, and how her mother’s musical brilliance shaped her just as deeply. From high school band rooms and theatre stages to activism in midwifery and national arts leadership, she reflects on the enduring power of music to shape identity, empathy, and community. The episode is a warm, wide-ranging portrait of a woman who believes in listening deeply, advocating boldly, and helping others - especially young people - find their voice in the soundscape of Canadian culture.
Creators and Guests
Host
Ernesto Cervini
JUNO Award winner Ernesto Cervini is a sought-after drummer, composer and bandleader and an influential presence on Canada’s modern jazz scene and beyond. He has documented his vision with the Ernesto Cervini Quartet (featuring Joel Frahm), the innovative sextet Turboprop, numerous co- led trio projects including MEM3, Myriad3 and TuneTown, and also the quartet Tetrahedron, featuring acclaimed guitarist Nir Felder, electric bassist Rich Brown and alto saxophonist Luis Deniz. In all these settings, as J.D. Considine of JazzTimes has written, Cervini “drums like someone who’s an arranger at heart, carefully placing each accent for maximum melodic impact.” He’s been cited by Modern Drummer for his old-school knowledge and feel in the spirit of Art Blakey and Billy Higgins, yet credited by Musicweb International as a maker of music “grounded in the language of hard bop but not confined by it.”
Producer
TPR Records, LTD
TPR Records is a media company dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Canadian music, with a focus on Jazz and improvised music.
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