Leléka

Leléka is a Ukrainian-German folk jazz ensemble founded in Berlin in 2016. The band is known for its unique style, combining Ukrainian folklore with modern jazz and elements of improvisation.

==Career== Leléka was founded by Ukrainian singer and songwriter Viktoria Leléka in the spring of 2016 in Berlin. The first line-up of the band, in addition to Leléka herself, included pianist Robert Wienröder, double bassist Thomas Kolarczyk, and drummer Jakob Hegner. Leléka won the Creole – Global Music Contest in 2017 and the European Young Jazz Talent Award at the Internationale Jazzwoche Burghausen in 2018. They came in second place at the Young Munich Jazz Prize in 2019. Following the self-titled EP Leléka (2017), the quartet, which was also included in Ralf Dombrowski's book "111 Reasons to Love Jazz," released their debut album Tuman in 2019 with Povel Widestrand as the new pianist.