Hazari (Serbian Cyrillic: Ã¥ð÷ðÃÂø; trans. The Khazars) is a Serbian musical group formed in Nià ¡ in 1991. Led by guitarist and principal songwriter Dragomir Milenkovià"Joga", Hazari combine ethnic music of the Balkans, jazz, rock, new-age and world music. The group has released five studio albums to date. Although officially active, Hazari appear live occasionally only, as since 2004 Milenkoviàhas been dedvoted to his solo releases, also embarking on several side projects.
Hazari were formed by guitarist Dragomir Milenkovià"Joga" and bass guitarist Zoran Taleviàin 1991. MilenkoviÃÂ, who took up guitar when he was eleven, had previously played with Nià ¡ bands Magnum, Kupe za Nepuà ¡aÃÂe (Non-Smoking Compartment) and Funky Soul X Band, also performing in backing bands of traditional music singers Stanià ¡a Stoà ¡iÃÂ, Vaska Ilieva and Selimova-à ½elÃÂeski duo. He was further influenced by the Orthodox church music, Byzantine music, Romani music of Southern Serbia, pagan elements of South Slavic culture, but also by the music of India. His exploration of different genres was followed by him taking up synth guitar. Milenkoviàand Taleviàoriginally named the group Etno Pop Zajednica Hazari (Ethnic Pop Community the Khazars), influenced by Milorad PaviÃÂ's novel Dictionary of the Khazars. The first lineup of the band also included Goran Ilià(guitar), Goran ÃÂorÃÂevià(percussion) and Joà ¡ko Hartl (drums), the latter simultaneously a member of the hard rock band Kerber.
Hazari debut album, entitled ÃÂuvari istine (Keepers of Truth), was released in 1994 and featured instrumentals composed by MilenkoviÃÂ, which combined ethnic music, jazz, rock and new-age. The album was produced by guitarist Duà ¡an "Duda" Bezuha and featured bass guitarist Slavià ¡a Pavlovià"Stanley" on several tracks. Soon after the album release, in early 1994, they were joined by guitarist Aleksandar DobrijeviÃÂ. After Dobrijeviàleft the group, the members decided to include a violinist in the lineup, and were joined by violin player Nikola Aleksandrov. Simultaneously, Hartl left the group and was replaced by Milorad Miloà ¡eviÃÂ. In 1994, the group performed at Sofia Jazz Festival, in 1996, they appeared at Cluj Jazz Festival, and in 1997, they performed at Summertime Jazz Festival held in Belgrade's Sava Centar.
The group's second studio album was entitled Balkan Asimetria and produced by Branko MaÃÂià"MaÃÂak". The album title was inspired by asymmetric rhythms of Balkan traditional music. The band recorded the album in a new lineup, featuring Milenkovià(synth and acoustic guitar), Talevià(bass guitar), Aleksandrov (violin), Milan Brkovià(percussion), Zoran Marjanovià(drums) and Katarina KaÃÂunkovià(vocals), with three album tracks featuring scat singing by latter. After unsuccessful negotiations with several Serbian record labels, Milenkoviàself-released the album through his own record label Vidovdan in the autumn of 1998. By the time of the album release, the band's lineup had changed, featuring MilenkoviÃÂ, Dejan Pavlovià(bass guitar), Manja Ristià(violin) and Miloà ¡ Delià(percussion).
The band's following album, Knjiga proroka Enoha (Book of Prophet Enoch), was released in 2000, also by the band's label Vidovdan, featuring similar ethnic music-oriented sound as the band's previous release, combining Balkan ethnic music with elements of Sufi, Sephardic and Celtic music. The album was produced by Boris Bunjac, and featured, alongside MilenkoviÃÂ, PavloviÃÂ, Ristiàand DeliÃÂ, new member Teuta Aslani on vocals and flute, and guest appearances by the band's former member Taleviàon bass guitar, Sneà ¾ana Spasiàon vocals, Filip Krumes on violin and Goran Miloà ¡eviàon percussion.
The band's fourth release, Svetlucanje kroz san (Glimmer in a Dream), released in 2002, featured, alongside instrumental tracks, a number of songs featuring vocals. The tracks featured guest appearances by singers Madame Piano, Gorica Ponjavià(of Neverne Bebe), Sandra RadosavljeviÃÂ, Nataà ¡a Todorovska, Svetozar Vujiàand Nebojà ¡a JukiÃÂ. Once again, Milenkoviàauthored all of the album songs. In 2003, the band appeared on the various artists live album Guitar Art Festival 2002 with a live version of their song "Uranela". In 2007, Hazari released the compilation album Presek 2007 (Intersection 2007). The album was released with the first issue of the ethnic music magazine Etnoumlje (Ethnomind). The following year, PGP-RTS reissued Svetlucanje kroz san with bonus material.
The album Bogumili (Bogumils) was released in 2014 under Dragomir Milenkovià& Hazari moniker. The album featured, alongside MilenkoviÃÂ, flutist Ivana ÃÂorÃÂeviàand percussionist Goran PetroviÃÂ. In 2022, WMAS Records released the compilation album Hazari retrospektiva 1991âÂÂ2020 (Hazari Retrospective 1991âÂÂ2020).
In 2004, MilenkoviÃÂ released Naissus XXI vek (Naissus XXI Century), recorded with a number of collaborators, opting to release it under his own name rather than under Hazari moniker, dedicating the album to his home city.
In 2007, he released the album Gajde (Bagpipes), combining Hazari's original sound with electronic music. The album featured Madame Piano, traditional music singer Nada Popov and bagpipes player Slobodan "Gale" DimitrijeviÃÂ. The following year, he appeared on the album Zeitgeist by the supergroup Rok Misija (Rock Mission), playing saz and kaval in the cover of YU Grupa song "Kosovski boà ¾uri" ("Kosovo Peonies"). In 2009, he released the album 17 rimskih careva (17 Roman Emperors), inspired by the lives of Roman emperors born on the territory of contemporary Serbia.
MilenkoviÃÂ's 2016 solo album Vizionarenje (Visioning) featured ambient instrumentals. His 2017 album Trogir was dedicated to his birth town of Trogir, Croatia. During the same year, he released the jazz album album Dragomir MilenkoviàVST Jazz Trio. In 2020, he released another album with his VST Jazz Trio, Beogradske priÃÂe (Belgrade Stories), with songs inspired by and dedicated to Serbian capital. The album was MilenkoviÃÂ's first release to feature vocals recorded by himself, also featuring singers Nada Popov and Nebojà ¡a JukiÃÂ. In 2022, his composition "VraÃÂar" (named after the VraÃÂar area of Belgrade) appeared on the various artists instrumental music album RIMUS.
In 2006, for the commemoration of 150 years since the birth of Nikola Tesla, MilenkoviÃÂ composed the classical piece Svita za Nikolu Teslu (Nikola Tesla Suite). He composed music for Predrag StaniÃÂ's monodrama Besede NemanjiÃÂa (Sermons of the NemanjiÃÂs), playing saz and kaval during the performances of the play. He has performed with the Vlach music group Misteria Carpatica, releasing a maxi-single with the group in 2010. He wrote about music for a number magazines, including Pop kultura (Pop Culture), Etnoumlje and Svetlica (Spark).
In 2023, Dragomir Milenkoviàwas awarded with the Nià ¡ville Jazz Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.