Laza Ristovski
Laza Ristovski | |
---|---|
Electronic organ, synthesizer, piano | |
Years active | 1970 – 2007 |
Labels | Beograd Disk, PGP-RTB, Tring, ITMM, Komuna, PGP-RTS, Hi-Fi Centar, Goraton |
Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (
, as well as for his eclectic solo work that spanned many different musical genres.Biography
Early life
Lazar Ristovski was born in Novi Pazar, as his father, a Yugoslav People's Army officer, was stationed there at the time. When Ristovski was two years old, the family moved to Kraljevo, which is where he grew up.[1]
Early career (1970-74)
Ristovski formed his first band, Bezimeni (The Nameless), when he was fourteen. The band made only one recording, the song "Maštarenje", which was released on various artists album Veče uz radio (Evening by the Radio) in 1975.[1] In the summer of 1974, Bezimeni performed in Bečići, where a well-known clarinetist Boki Milošević heard their performance. After Milošević's invitation, Ristovski moved to Belgrade and became a member of Milošević's orchestra.[1]
Smak (1975-76)
During the autumn of 1974, Ristovski started performing with
Bijelo Dugme, Laza i Ipe (1976-78)
In October 1976, Ristovski was persuaded by Goran Bregović to join Sarajevo-based hard rock band Bijelo Dugme as the band was getting ready to start recording their third studio album Eto! Baš hoću! (There! I Will!).[2] Ristovski was a replacement for their regular keyboardist Vlado Pravdić, who had to serve the mandatory army stint.[2] With Bijelo Dugme he recorded the album Eto! Baš hoću! (1976) and the live album Koncert kod Hajdučke česme (1977).[1]
As Bregović left for his own army stint in November 1977, thus putting the band on hiatus, Ristovski and Ivandić decided to start working on a side project.
On 10 September, the same day for which the beginning of the promotional tour was scheduled, Ivandić, Kovačević and Boban were arrested for owning hashish, which ended Laza & Ipe activity.[4] At the beginning of 1978, Ristovski worked with the band Vatra, but eventually returned to Smak in late 1978.[1]
Back to Smak, the beginning of solo career (1978-81)
In 1980, Ristovski recorded the album
In 1981, he recorded another album with Smak, Zašto ne volim sneg (Why I Don't Like the Snow), however, the band disbanded shortly after the album release.[1] After Smak disbanded, Ristovski took part in the recording of Smak former vocalist Boris Aranđelović's solo album Iz profila (1982).[1]
Solo career (1982-85)
Ristovski's debut solo album Merge was released in 1982, and became the best-selling
Back to Bijelo Dugme (1985-89)
He returned to Bijelo Dugme in 1985.
Ristovski stayed in Bijelo Dugme until the band broke up in 1989, releasing the studio albums
Osvajači, Smak reunion (1990-92)
In 1990, Ristovski became a joined member of the glam metal band Osvajači, playing keyboards on and producing their debut album Krv i led (Blood and Ice, 1990).[7]
In 1992, Ristovski took part in Smak reunion, performing with them on one Kragujevac and three Belgrade concerts, the first Belgrade concert resulting in a live album OdLIVEno (LIVEquefied, 1992).[8] After the Belgrade concerts, the band, despite the plans for recording a studio album, disbanded.[8]
Solo career, Bijelo Dugme reunion (1993-2007)
In 1993, Ristovski released his first solo album since 1986, Quit.[1] In 1994, he recorded well-received album Naos (Nave) with Bajaga i Instruktori keyboardist Saša Lokner.[1] Some of the songs on Naos were inspired by Orthodox spiritual music.[1] In 2003, he released the album Gondola,[9] and in 2006, the album Laza Ristovski Plays Simon & Garfunkel, featuring instrumental versions of Simon & Garfunkel songs.[10]
Despite using a
Death and legacies
Ristovski died in Belgrade on 6 October 2007 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis.[12]
After his death, a posthumous album Drvo života (Tree of Life) was released in 2008.[13] The album, on which Ristovski worked before his death, featured guest appearances by Dragi Jelić, Tijana Dapčević, Nikola Čuturilo, members of Del Arno Band, Igor Lazić, Dado Topić, Saša Ranđelović, and others.[14] In 2008, PGP-RTS released two compilation albums, one featuring Merge and 2/3, and the other featuring Vojnički dani and Roses for a General in their entirety.[15]
In March 2016, a documentary about Ristovski was announced. The documentary will be directed by Ivan Grlić.
Collaborations
Ristovski played on more than thousand albums of rock, jazz and
During his career Ristovski worked with international stars like Falco and Richard Palmer-James.[1] At the beginning of the 1980s, Ristovski was a member of Alvin Lee Band and played on their Yugoslav and Hungarian tour. Ristovski also worked with RTB Jazz Orchestra.[1]
Film music
Ristovski wrote music for the films Lazar (1984), Zaboravljeni (1988), Hajde da se volimo 2 (1989), Violinski ključ (1990), Pokojnik (1990), A Holy Place (1990), Hajde da se volimo 3 (1990), Velika frka (1992), Mrav pešadinac (1993), Napadač (1993), Osmeh Margaret Jursenar (1993), Obračun u kazino kabareu (1993),
Accolades
Ristovski was voted the best Yugoslav keyboardist for eleven years in a row by Yugoslav music magazines. On the 1984 film festival in
Discography
With Smak
Studio albums
- 1975 - Smak
- 1980 - Rock cirkus
- 1981 - Zašto ne volim sneg
Extended plays
- 1976 - Satelit
Live albums
- 1992 - "odLIVEno"
Compilation albums
- 1977 - Ulazak u Harem / Plava pesma
- 1992 - Smak: Retrospektiva
- 1995 - The Best of Smak
- 1996 - Star? Mlad. Večan?
- 2001 - Istorija
- 2008 - The Best of Smak
Singles
- 1975 - "Ulazak u harem" / "Sto ptica"
- 1975 - "Ulazak u harem" / "Epitaf"
- 1976 - "Ljudi nije fer" / "El dumo"
- 1979 - Smak Super 45
- 1980 - "Rock cirkus" / "Hirošima"
with Bijelo Dugme
Studio albums
- 1976 - Eto! Baš hoću!
- 1986 - Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo
- 1988 - Ćiribiribela
Live albums
- 1978 - Koncert kod Hajdučke česme
- 1988 - Mramor, kamen i željezo
- 2005 - Turneja 2005 - Sarajevo, Zagreb, Beograd
Solo
Studio albums
- 1978 - Stižemo (with Ipe Ivandić)
- 1982 - Merge
- 1983 - 2/3
- 1984 - Vojnički dani
- 1984 - Roses for a General
- 1985 - Opera (with Nenad Jelić)
- 1993 - Quit
- 1994 - Naos (with Saša Lokner)
- 1997 - Muzika iz filma Nečista krv
- 2003 - Gondola
- 2006 - Laza Ristovski Plays Simon & Garfunkel
Posthumous studio albums
- 2008 - Drvo života
Compilation albums
- 1997 - Svetlost u A-duru (Antologija)
- 2000 - The Best Of Instrumental Works
- 2000 - Platinum
- 2008 - Merge + 2/3
- 2008 - Vojnički Dani + Roses For A General
Singles
- 1980 - "Tražiš oproštaj" / "Andželika"
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2006. Belgrade: Self-released. p. 198.
- ^ Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 32.
- ^ a b c Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 33.
- ^ Krstulović, Zvonimir (2005). Bijelo Dugme: Doživjeti stotu. Profil. p. 32.
- ^ Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 34.
- ^ a b Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 35.
- ^ Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 162.
- ^ a b Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 211.
- ^ Gondola at Discogs
- ^ Laza Ristovski Plays Simon & Garfunkel, discogs.com; accessed 13 December 2016.
- ^ "Preminuo poznati muzičar Laza Ristovski", blic.rs
- ^ "Preminuo Laza Ristovski", Popboks.com; accessed 13 December 2016.
- ^ "Лазино дрво живота", politika.rs
- ^ Drvo života, Discogs.com; accessed 13 December 2016.
- ^ "Reizdanja albuma Laze Ristovskog", blic.rs; accessed 13 December 2016.
- ^ "Memorijalni koncert "Iza horizonta" u znak sećanja na Lazu Ristovskog", balkanrock.com; accessed 13 December 2016.
- ^ "IZA HORIZONTA Kolege muzičari svirali u čast Lazi Ristovskom", blic.rs
- ^ Laza Ristovski profile, Discogs.com; accessed 13 December 2016.