Leb I Sol

Leb i sol (eng. "Bread and Salt") was a premier fusion band in former Yugoslavia. They were formed on 1st January 1976 in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (back then part of Yugoslavia), with the original line-up consisting of: Vlatko Stefanovski (guitar and vocals), Bodan Arsovski (bass), Nikola Dimuševski (keyboards) and Dimitar Čočorovski (drums). In mid-1977 Garabet Tavitijan replaced Čočorovski on drums and this line-up would last until 1980, making the first three albums of largely instrumental Macedonian ethno-jazz-fusion that remain their best work so far. Dimuševski left in 1980, to be replaced for a short time by Miki Petkovski (ex-SMAK) but he also quit shortly. The remaining members decided to continue as a trio (without keyboards), so the fourth album introduced a change of music direction from pure jazz-fusion into more rock-based territory, retaining some ethno-fusion elements but making them more accessible to mainstream pop/rock audience. Tavitijan left in summer 1982 and his replacement was Dragoljub Đuričić, ex-YU Grupa drummer. The same year they changed their record label from Belgrade-based PGP RTB to Zagreb-based Jugoton. The 8th album "Tangenta" was produced by the Canterbury scene veteran Kevin Ayers. Tavitijan was back on drums in 1986, while the following year they added saxophone and keyboards for "Kao kakao" album, making another radical shift towards AOR laid-back sound with all vocal tracks, including several pop-hits, abandoning prog explorations almost entirely. Dimuševski was back in team for the last studio album "Putujemo" in 1989, while Đuričić again replaced Tavitijan on drums for the North American tour and "Live in New York" album in 1991. They played their last concert in Thessalonica, Greece, December 1995, after which LEB I SOL disbanded. Stefanovski and Arsovski founded their private label Third Ear Music in 1990 and continued with successful solo careers. In mid-2006 Leb I Sol gather back together in their most recognizable line up (Stefanovski, Arsovski, Dimuševski, Tavitijan) for their "30th ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2006", having gigs all around former Yugoslavia in the next several months. After this tour ended, Vlatko Stefanovski leaves the band and the rest of the members continue to work with new guitarist Dimitar Božikov, a well established and appreciated Macedonian musician.