Travel Notes

Grace McNally
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Travel Notes is a show that uses music as a medium to explore the ways in which we are all connected.

  1. 04/21/2025

    Travel Notes x Charleston Jazz Festival Special Edition Featuring Big Chief Donald Harrison

    Today, we’re honored to be joined by a true cultural torchbearer — saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and Big Chief of the Congo Square Nation… Donald Harrison. From second-line rhythms in New Orleans to classical orchestration, nouveau swing to trap-infused jazz — Donald Harrison’s musical reach is nothing short of cosmic. In this episode, we dive deep into his creative process, his groundbreaking orchestral work like the Congo Square Suite, and his vision for connecting ancestral sounds with modern innovation, including his mind-bending new project in quantum improvisation. We talk about how his music reflects the shared soul between cities like Charleston and New Orleans — and what audiences can expect when he headlines the Charleston Jazz Festival on April 27. Plus, we explore how Harrison is shaping the future of music through mentorship, multi-genre storytelling, and a lifetime of turning sound into spirit. So whether you're tuning in from the Lowcountry or the Crescent City, from a porch swing or a subway ride — get ready to travel through rhythm, history, and heart.

    1h 3m

  2. 02/24/2025

    Travel Notes with Jacob Edgar

    We’re kicking off Season 5 of Travel Notes with a true global music visionary—Jacob Edgar! As an ethnomusicologist, cultural explorer, and world music tastemaker, Jacob has spent his career uncovering the sounds that shape cultures around the globe. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of ethnomusicology and its surprising breadth, explore how Putumayo World Music transformed global music marketing, and discuss how music influences our understanding of culture. Jacob also shares insights on the evolving role of music appreciation in different cultural contexts and how the digital age has shifted us from communal listening experiences to hyper-personalized curation. Join us as we celebrate the power of music to connect, educate, and inspire—one note at a time.

    53 min

  3. 11/11/2024

    Travel Notes Featuring Silkroad Ensemble's American Railroad Project with Maeve Gilchrist

    Today on Travel Notes, we are featuring the American Railroad project by the Silkroad Ensemble in anticipation of their show at the Charleston Gaillard Center on November 19th. Today’s special guest, celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist takes us behind the scenes of this monumental project. Silkroad’s American Railroad project highlights untold stories and amplifies unheard voices from the communities who actually built the transcontinental railroad, addressing past injustices and providing a more truthful account of global diasporic contributions to the creation of the American Empire. We also listen to two tracks off of their upcoming album, The American Railroad album which comes out on November 15th. Tickets to American Railroad at the Charleston Gaillard Center Silkroad Website Maeve Gilchrist Website Travel Notes Webpage Travel Notes Instagram

    46 min

  4. 10/14/2024

    Travel Notes Featuring Eljuri

    Today on Travel Notes, we talk to musician and songwriter, Eljuri. Eljuri is a New Yorker, immigrant, Latina, woman, singer, and guitarist. Her greatest passions are songwriting and activism. Her music is a fusion of Latin, reggae and global rhythms with rock and funk. Her bilingual songs are socially conscious and about current global issues. In her world, music and activism are positively intertwined. She seeks to empower not only the Latino community but all champions for human rights. She is an artivist (activist meets artist) whose bilingual songs are stories about resilience, resistance, civil rights, and saving the planet. We talk about her musical influences, mission as an artist and activist and her most recent tour and project, Concerts for Democracy. Eljuri Website - https://www.eljurimusic.com/ Concerts for Democracy - https://www.eljurimusic.com/tour-1 Travel Notes - https://www.gracemcnallymusic.com/travel-notes

    44 min

  5. 09/30/2024

    Travel Notes Featuring KUNÉ

    In this episode of Travel Notes, we explore the vibrant city of Toronto through the music of KUNÉ, Canada’s Global Orchestra with special guests, Aline Morales & Matias Recharte. Formed in 2017 by The Royal Conservatory of Music, KUNÉ became an independent collective in 2021. This eleven-piece ensemble includes musicians from around the world, reflecting the cultural diversity of Toronto. We discuss how KUNÉ blends cultural traditions, fosters collaboration, and connects us all through their shared musical experience. https://www.kuneworld.com/ https://www.alinemorales.com/ https://www.instagram.com/matiasrecharte/ https://www.gracemcnallymusic.com/

    1h 8m

  6. 08/26/2024

    Travel Notes with Laura Risk

    This month on Travel Notes we head north to Canada where we talk with Laura Risk, assistant Professor in the Music and Culture program of the Department of Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Toronto Scarborough and professional Scottish and Québécois fiddler. Her fiddling has been described by filmmaker Ken Burns as "a revelation and achingly beautiful” and Living Tradition hails her 'powerful, percussive style… bursting with energy and passion.” Today, we dive into some of her research projects and explore tunes and musical traditions that are hundreds of years old with relations to music from all over the globe. We also listen to a few songs off her newest album, Traverse, which was released in 2023 and is a 10 track musical journey through traditional fiddle music. https://laurarisk.com/ https://www.gracemcnallymusic.com/

    55 min

  7. 07/29/2024

    Travel Notes with Laura Diaz Featuring the Music of Joaquín Orellana

    Welcome back to Travel Notes! Today, we're thrilled to chat with professional violinist, Laura Diaz. Laura's musical journey took her from graduating with degrees in Music Performance, Music History and Computer Information Systems to a 2021 SURF Grant where she explored Guatemalan composer Joaquín Orellana's career amidst Guatemala's turbulent history, digitizing and archiving his work for future generations. Tune in for a deep dive into the innovative music of Joaquín Orellana, Laura’s groundbreaking project and this unique cultural connection! Link to the documentary: https://youtu.be/fFvcQVbNddw Link to NY Times article on Joaquín Orellana: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/19/arts/music/joaqin-orellana-the-spine-of-music.html

    39 min

  8. 06/17/2024

    Travel Notes Featuring Kobo Town

    In today's show we are going somewhere we’ve never been before on Travel Notes! We are going to the southernmost island in the Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela, perhaps most musically well known for their steel drums thanks to their economy’s heavy reliance on petrochemicals and petroleum, you may have heard of this island called Trinidad and Tobago! Our cultural liaison will be Trinidadian and Toronto based musician Drew Gonsalves, founder of the calypso group Kobo Town. Together, we get to know the complex, diverse and compact country of Trinidad and Tobago through the musical lens of calypso and Kobo Town’s newest album, Carnival of Ghosts.

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Travel Notes is a show that uses music as a medium to explore the ways in which we are all connected.

Information

  • Creator
    Grace McNally
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Grace McNally 2020
  • Show Website
    Travel Notes