The Gathering

Ahumanu have been performing off and on for a few years, but this is their debut recording, a very nice contemporary Hawaiian album from the three songstresses of Maui. The music is largely based around some sweet harmonizing vocals from the trio, with touches of guitar and bass holding up the rhythmic end of affairs. The compositions are largely a mix of traditional works (it's always going to be tough to make a Hawaiian album without a Queen Lili'uokalani song) and more contemporary pieces, with a stray old Elvis song thrown in. While the vocals are really the key to the music here, there are also some nice appearances put in by steel guitar legend Bobby Ingano and guitar and piano accentuations courtesy of Ata Damasco. The steel guitar in particular helps to accent the proceedings effectively and keeps the mood properly laid-back. Hawaiian contemporary vocal music is rarely adventurous, and indeed this album is no exception. The reason to get it though is not for the sake of adventure, but for its relaxed, comfortable songs with a sense of tradition embedded within. On that count, Ahumanu delivers perfectly.