Music critics' picks

Are you a fan of Slavic punk groups like Gogol Bordello and Slavic Soul Party? If so, you really should take a big leap forward by checking out Auktyon, the Russian bohemian-rockers who may have instigated that whole scene and remain at its creative tip.

They've been underground icons since the late 1970s, finally allowed to go public in the era of Glasnost. The music on their new album, "Girls Sing" (featuring guest appearances by American admirers John Medeski and Marc Ribot), literally jumps out of the grooves. Driven by the fevered vocals of Leonid Fedorov (think Tom Waits singing in Russian), with honking horns and bowed/plucked contrabass, dancing pianistics and jumping percussion, the music has an incredible spirit of improvisation and crazed adventure - a real fire in its Balkan belly.

This art manages to connect the dots between Russian folkloric music, rock, free jazz and modern minimalist "serious" music, plus world styles from Spanish flamenco to Jamaican ska. And live, we hear, Auktyon performances add a monster-on-the-loose theatricality. Now that's freedom - at least of expression.

World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 7:30 tonight, $25-$35, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

- Jonathan Takiff

For the past six years, the Scottish quartet Sons and Daughters has distanced itself from the lighter fare of its countrymen and women such as Belle & Sebastian, and former tourmates Franz Ferdinand. With a lineup that includes former members of Arab Strap, the band's country-punk blues has more in common with Johnny Cash or X, the sharp lyricism of Leonard Cohen, and the darkness of Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. "The Gift," produced by London Suede's Bernard Butler, is a brighter affair, their best yet, which might bring them the superstardom they deserve.

Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Sunday, $12, 215-739-9684 www.johnnybrendas.com.

- Sara Sherr

Prolific reggae stars are nothing new. But none hold the cachet and respect that Gregory Isaacs has earned through his 30-plus years in reggae. The native of Kingston, Jamaica, has released an astounding 50-plus albums since his 1975 debut, "In Person." His silky-smooth crooning and timeless reggae beats have truly kept Isaacs front and center in fans' minds.

His "Night Nurse" has been remade many times by younger reggae artists and ranks as one of the all-time greatest reggae songs. The Live Wire Band will back Isaacs here. Rootz Underground and rising newcomer Wareika Hill will also perform.

Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-922-LIVE, www.ticketmaster.com.

- Damon C. Williams

If March is supposed to go out like a lamb, then Chris' Jazz Cafe has things a little backwards; they're ending the month with a week full of the far more lion-like sound of big bands: the Chris' Jazz Cafe Big Band Festival. While last year's inaugural festival imported a few out-of-town ringers, the sophomore installment sticks much closer to home, with a prevalence of university-based ensembles.

UArts, Rowan and West Chester University are all represented, not to mention the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra, many members of which haven't even achieved college age yet. In addition, local faves like the Lars Halle, Jump City and Hoppin' John orchestras will appear, at times supplemented by Philly stalwarts like trumpeter John Swana and saxophonist Larry McKenna.

Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., Monday through March 30, $8-$20, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

- Shaun Brady

Back in the 1970s, Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Eugene Ormandy commissioned a work from Alberto Ginastera. But the Argentinian composer died in 1983, finishing only six of the seven planned movements of "Popol vuh: The Creation of the Mayan World." Those six movements, depicting the dawn of mankind with many percussion effects, were finally premiered, and recorded, by Leonard Slatkin in 1989.

Slatkin finally brings us this work, also leading the Philadelphians in Ravel's revelatory orchestration of Mussorgsky's famous piano piece, "Pictures at an Exhibition." Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is his soloist in the elegant, magisterial Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4.

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. Thursday and March 29, plus 2 p.m. March 28, $38-$113, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

- Tom Di Nardo