Blue Shadows

Blue Shadows, a multi-genre formation, performing mostly in studio and occasionally also in concert, was founded in 2016, on the occasion of the recording of the score for the eponymous TV series (Modré stíny) by Viktor Tauš, with the singer James Harries. The ensemble has bee performing in a stable line-up (Petr Ostrouchov, Josef Štěpánek, Matěj Belko, and Martin Novák) with the cellist Jiří Bárta and James Harries as permanent guests, but has frequently been joined by other players and international guests, invited for particular projects. Since the recording of the original soundtrack, the band has collaborated with Viktor Tauš on a number of his other projects, and participated in the three latest albums of Vladimír Mišík (Jednou tě potkám, Noční obraz, Vteřiny, hodiny a roky) and the album Vlčí stopy of Mirek Kemel. Alongside the main initiator, Petr Ostrouchov, who has also authored or co-authored much of the music for the projects, the original sound of Blue Shadows has been created by its other core members: guitarist Josef Štěpánek, one of the most sought-after studio and concert performers in the country and a musical partner of Lenka Nová; bass guitarist, guitarist, and keyboard player, Matěj Belko (member of David Koller’s band); and the drummer Martin Novák, a long-term member of the Druhá tráva band, who is also known from his regular collaboration with jazz musicians such as Jaromír Honzák or David Dorůžka.