Maura McKinney Mastro's new CD is a collection of inspirational songs, about half trad and half hers. She is a talented nightclub vet whose roots are folk, Celt, Christian and radical. Her dad was the legendary journalist Jack McKinney, who died last month and at whose memorial service I led the mourners in a rousing and seditious "Which Side Are You On?". The CD, Inspirational Roots, is more ornate in presentation than folk audiences are used to, but in the context of its intended audience, it is a joy to experience.

The first track, "Back To Life," is Maura's homage to her father and she does him proud. I was also impressed with her inclusion of "America, The Beautiful," our shoulda-been national anthem. Maybe someday, I'll get around to writing about her dad. Maybe one of the Pulitzer Prize winning authors who spoke at the memorial will. Maybe no one would believe us it we did write about a man who was so accomplished in so many areas that his biography would be viewed as fiction. Well, until someone does right by Black Jack, this CD and that song are a decent start. It was released by Clady Records and is available from http://amazon.mudcat.org/.

-Mike Miller for PFS
Reprinted from PFS "Tune Up," by permission