Tara Davidson
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.
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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