When the Russian ensemble Auktyon (pronounced “Auction”) first came together, its birthplace was called Leningrad and Boris Yeltsin was just another Party member. Leningrad became St. Petersburg, Yeltsin became the President of Russia, and Auktyon went from being an underground favorite to being one of the most revered bands in the country’s history. Their music gathers rock, jazz, and ethnic elements into an irrepressible eclectic sound, anchored by Leonid Fedorov’s smoky baritone and Oleg Garkusha’s energetic vocalizing. They’re in town with songs from “Girls Sing,” their first studio album in a dozen years. It was recorded in New York City and features contributions from such local fixtures as the guitarist Marc Ribot and the keyboardist John Medeski, who join them here.

By: John Donahue