Laza Ristovski

Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: Лаза Ристовски, ; 23 January 1956 – 6 October 2007) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav keyboardist, known for being a member of rock bands Smak and Bijelo Dugme, 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.

Early career (1970–1974) 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. Ristovski was a replacement for their regular keyboardist Vlado Pravdić, who had to serve the mandatory army stint. Naming their act Laza & Ipe, they recorded the symphonic rock-oriented album entitled Stižemo (Here We Come) in London during February and March 1978. The album, featuring lyrics by Ranko Boban, was recorded in London with Leb i Sol leader Vlatko Stefanovski on guitar, Zlatko Hold on bass guitar, and Goran Kovačević and Ivandić's sister Gordana on vocals. At the beginning of 1978, Ristovski worked with the band Vatra, but eventually returned to Smak in late 1978. From 1985 to 1989, both Ristovski and Vlado Pravdić were the members of the band, Ristovski usually playing various keyboards and synthesizers, while Vlado Pravdić played the organ.

Ristovski stayed in Bijelo Dugme until the band broke up in 1989, releasing the studio albums Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo (Spit and Sing, My Yugoslavia, 1986) and Ćiribiribela (1988) and the live album Mramor, kamen i željezo (Marble, Stone and Iron, 1987) with the band. During this period, he also recorded the album Opera (1986) with percussionist Nenad Jelić.

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). After the Belgrade concerts, the band, despite the plans for recording a studio album, disbanded. The shows resulted in a live album Turneja 2005 - Sarajevo, Zagreb, Beograd (Tour 2005 - Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade, 2005).

After his death, a posthumous album Drvo života (Tree of Life) was released in 2008. 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. 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.

In March 2016, a documentary about Ristovski was announced. The documentary will be directed by Ivan Grlić. On November 9, 2016, in Belgrade's Sava Centar a concert entitled Iza horizonta was held, honoring Ristovski. The concert featured performances by Ristovski's former bandmates, collaborators and friends: Radomir Mihajlović "Točak" and Slobodan Stojanović "Kepa" (of Smak), Alen Islamović, Goran Bregović, Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti, Zana, Saša Lokner, Vasil Hadžimanov, Bilja Kristić & Bistrik, Neverne Bebe, Ognjen Radivojević, Kornelije Kovač, Nikola Čuturilo, Pera Joe, Bata Kostić, Dragan "Krle" Jovanović (of Generacija 5) and others. The concert also featured appearance by the actor Lazar Ristovski.

Collaborations Ristovski played on more than thousand albums of rock, jazz and folk music. He played keyboards on albums by Slađana Milošević, Zana, Oliver Mandić, Raša Đelmaš, Dušan Prelević, Vatreni Poljubac, Rajko Kojić, Bilja Krstić, Željko Bebek, Milić Vukašinović, Leb i Sol, Aska, Seid Memić, Aerodrom, Boris Novković, Viktorija, Jura Stublić & Film, Nikola Čuturilo, Piloti, Bebi Dol, Galija, Balkan, Vlado Janevski among others.

During his career Ristovski worked with international stars like Falco and Richard Palmer-James. 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.

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), Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (1996), and Impure Blood (1997). The music from Impure Blood was released on the album Muzika iz filma Nečista krv (1997). He was one of Goran Bregović's closest associates on Bregović's early movie soundtrack projects.

Accolades Ristovski was voted the best Yugoslav keyboardist for eleven years in a row by Yugoslav music magazines. On the 1984 film festival in Sopot Ristovski was awarded for the Lazar movie soundtrack. He also won the Golden Medal on the 36th and the 39th animated movie festival in Belgrade. In 1986, he was awarded with Estradna nagrada Srbije.

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"