CMC Presents : The Next Set with Ernesto Cervini - January

The Canadian Music Centre opens its doors to the future of Canadian jazz. The Next Set, the mentorship series led by JUNO Award-winning drummer, composer and bandleader Ernesto Cervini, arrives at the CMC for an evening where seasoned professionals and rising young talent share the stage as equals.

Launched in fall 2025 at Toronto's The Emmet Ray, The Next Set was built on a simple idea that runs through the whole history of jazz: the music is passed on at the bandstand. The series brings established players together with exceptional emerging artists in a rotating ensemble that captures both the depth of the Toronto scene today and the voices that will shape it tomorrow.

Diya Tirone

Diya Tirone is a vocalist in her fourth year of Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto. Her musical interest started in the world of musical theatre, giving her performances in any genre a uniquely intimate and emotional quality. Diya has been nominated for Broadway World’s “Best Performer in a Musical (non-professional)” for her role as “Hallie” in Connections by Shreya Ja. She was also praised by Hamilton City Magazine and The Vibe Hamilton for starring as “Theo” in Awake and Dreaming by Shreya Ja. Along with her musical theatre performances Diya has performed at The Rex, Drom Taberna, Mel Lastman Square and more with George Lake Big Band, Fat Quarter Band and her own ensembles. Along with her passion for teaching, she aspires to reach greater heights in both the Jazz and Musical Theatre scenes, with the ultimate goal of inspiring young female voices to unapologetically dream and share their voices.

Allison Au

Allison Au (pronounced “ow”) is a JUNO award-winning Canadian saxophonist, composer and arranger. Leader of the Allison Au Quartet, she has toured extensively throughout Canada and the US. Winner of the 2017 Montreal Jazz Festival TD Grand Prix de Jazz, the 2017 Halifax Jazz Festival Sting Ray Rising Star Award, and a 2017 Finalist for Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award, Allison was also recognized by SFJAZZ’s 2018 list of "10 Rising Instrumentalists You Should Know.”

JB Ombing

JB Ombing is a Filipino Canadian jazz guitarist based in Toronto, originally from British Columbia. Rooted in the jazz tradition, his playing draws inspiration from guitar greats Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and Grant Green, as well as contemporary jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein.

As a versatile guitarist and collaborator, JB has expanded his musical presence into Toronto’s R&B and pop scenes as both a recording and performing artist. His recent credits include Angelique Dancel’s Till Next Time EP and Gio Delos Santo’s Harana Kwintet, Vol. 1. He has also collaborated with artists such as Ernesto Cervini and Michael Herring, and performed alongside NYC’s Noriko Ueda as part of the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra.

Beyond the stage and studio, JB has contributed to music education as a teacher assistant at the VSO Jazz Camp in Vancouver, working with educators Kelly Jefferson, Miles Black, and James Danderfer under the direction of Jodi Proznick.

Gabriella Garvin

Gabriella Garvin is a bassist and cellist located in the GTA area with over 6 years of orchestra experience, and 4 years of pit band experience. Her playing on both bass and cello draws inspiration from Oscar Pettiford and Paul Chambers, as well as her current teacher, Andrew Downing. She enjoys playing in many different musical genres, and is currently a member of the University of Toronto's Hybrid Ensemble.

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, the innovative sextet Turboprop, numerous co-led trio projects including MEM3, Myriad3, and TuneTown, and the quartet Tetrahedron, featuring acclaimed guitarist Nir Felder. Cervini’s album Abundance won the 2020 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Group. He is also the drummer in the Joel Frahm Trio, one of today’s leading tenor saxophonists, with whom he tours extensively throughout Europe and the United States. In addition to his performing career, Cervini founded Orange Grove Publicity in 2014 and has become one of Canada’s most sought-after jazz publicists. He is also co-founder of TPR Records, artistic director of the Markham Jazz Festival, and is on faculty at the University of Toronto.

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