Albany Times Union 10/11/2001 By GREG HAYMES Staff writer     Annie and the Hedonists are celebrating the release of their debut CD with a party and performance at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Eighth Step at the Cohoes Music Hall. Led by honey-voiced singer Annie Rosen, the Schenectady-based folk quartet (also featuring guitarist Jonny Rosen, guitarist-mandolinist Steve Fry and bassist Betsy Fry) has done a hang-up job on the 14-song CD, "Side of the Road," on the indie WindyAcres label.     Folk-blues is the focus of the Hedonists' sound, but their repertoire shows surprising range. On the jazz tip, the classic 1924 Ida Cox nugget "Wild Women Don't Get the

Blues," "B1ues For Dixie" and the sublime ballad "This Town Can't Get Over You" all feature delightful trumpet playing by Steve Fry. Annie goes a cappella with "The Mill," while the late Keith \Vhitley's "You Don't Have to Move That Mountain" finds the group exploring the country gospel realm. Elsewhere, there's plenty of bluegrass influences, especially on "Who's That Knocking at My Door" and Gillian Welch's "Acony Bell."     Perhaps the biggest stretch of the CD comes at the very end, however, as they slide out of the Broadway show tune "A Bushel and a Peck" (from "Guys and Dolls) and straight into a superb rendition of Christine McVie's "Songbird."     In concert at the Eighth Step on Saturday, Annie and the Hedonists will be joined bv dobromaster Kevin Maul (of No Outlet). who also plays on four of the album's tracks.