Leléka

Founded in Berlin in 2016, Leléka (Ukrainian for "stork") is a young, multicultural quartet led by Ukrainian singer Viktoria, whose voice shapes the character and atmosphere of the band's music. The band's sound world, which ranges from dynamic grooving passages to delicate folk ballad tones, finds its framework in a contemporary jazz language that the quartet has developed into a varied concept. This blend of jazz and Ukrainian folk music has already earned Leléka numerous awards, including the creole Berlin world music competition and the European Young Jazz Award Burghausen 2018. The band was also nominated for the German Jazz Award in the "Band of the Year" category in 2022.

The increased interest in Ukrainian culture since the outbreak of the war of aggression against Ukraine has made Viktoria & her band one of the most important musical ambassadors of their homeland. Since then, their concerts have not only been experiences of innovative reinterpretations of old, mostly forgotten Ukrainian folk songs, but also a strong sign of solidarity for the right of Ukrainian culture to exist. Highlights of the band's history include performances at festivals such as ELBJAZZ (Hamburg), Jazz & the City (Salzburg), the Bardentreffen (Nuremberg) and the Rudolstadt Festival.

Victoria Leleka - Vocals

Povel Widestand - Piano

Thomas Kolarczyk - Double Bass

Jakob Hegner - Drums