Review by Albany Times Union, 2008
Greg Haymes, Times Union, Albany
Annie and the Hedonists’ “Good Ole Wagon” (Windy Acres): Jazz, blues, country, folk, bluegrass … it’s all here. Annie Rosen’s versatile, vintage-tinged voice is the perfect match for the Hedonists’ ace musicianship.
Annie & the Hedonists are back with their third album, “Good Old Wagon,” and it’s more of the same, which is just great. If you’re a fan of vintage country music, the Schenectady quartet has got what you’re looking for. They’re also a great band to check out if jazz is your thing. Or blues. Or Celtic music. Or swing. Or bluegrass. Or whatever.
In short, Annie & the Hedonists is a band that knows no musical boundaries. Or perhaps more accurately, they know the boundaries, but simply choose to ignore them.
Co-produced by the band’s guitarist Jonny Rosen and utility man (keyboards, mandolin, trumpet, etc.) Steve Fry, the album is a wonderfully wild ride across the vast acoustic music landscape. The band is made up of two couples (Annie Rosen is on lead vocals and Betsy Fry rounds out the combo on bass), and they also spotlight their daughters, handing over the lead vocal chore on “Pretty Fair Maiden” to Hannah Rosen, while Amanda Fry grabs the microphone for “Maid of Culmore.”
Yes, the Hedonists are a family affair, and they obviously know each other well, gently churning up a relaxed, organic sound.
Bessie Smith’s blues classic “You’ve Been a Good Old Wagon” lends the album its title, but elsewhere the Hedonists dig into the gospel-rock of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Summerfly” by singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler, the sophisticated country of K.T. Oslin, high-lonesome bluegrass of Claire Lynch, the irresistible swing of Fats Waller and back to the blues — this time with a Ma Rainey tune.
Annie & the Hedonists introduce their new album with a CD release party at the WAMC Performing Arts Studio in Albany on Saturday night, and don’t be surprised if a few special guests drop by to join in the festivities. After all, guest musicians on the disc include dobroist Kevin Maul, clarinetist Peter Davis, fiddler Frank Orsini, banjo man Dave Kiphuth and Irish whistle player John Cromie. And if you can’t make it to WAMC on Saturday, you can also catch the Hedonists playing a free lunchtime concert at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Ten Eyck Plaza in downtown Albany.