Alexandre Kassin, Moreno Veloso, and Domenico Lancelotti form a musical trio, which might very well have been called a group, if it weren't for the fact that they, in rather unorthodox fashion, focus on each individual group member instead of the group as a unit. Thus, at the release of the trio's first CD in 2001, with Moreno Veloso as singer, they called themselves Moreno+2. In 2003, it was Domenico's turn to stand in the limelight, and the trio called itself Domenico+2. Subsequently, with their third CD release in 2006, the trio adopted the name Kassin+2. Whatever they call themselves, Kassin, Domenico, and Moreno have come to be seen as one of the hippest and most creative songwriting teams of the so-called modern MPB from Rio de Janeiro. With many variations, their music is based on the mix of bossa nova and MPB with modern pop and electronica. Of the three, Moreno Veloso (who of course is the son of the much celebrated Brazilian music legend Caetano Veloso) has proved to stand for a more "serious" and organic kind of music, while Domenico has an aptitude for irony and an obvious interest for pursuing experimental sounds. Kassin+2 lies somewhere in between the two on that scale. The Moreno+2 record was dominated by Moreno's acoustic guitar and tender yet dramatic voice. Traditional and acoustic MPB was mixed, or clashed if you will, with theremin, electronic percussion, and sound effects from a portable video game, with an often surprisingly captivating effect as a result. The CD was released by David Byrne's Luaka Bop. On the Domenico+2 record, the traditional MPB took much more of a back seat in relation to modern electronica and a high degree of experimentalism. The album also offered brief appearances by illustrious artists such as Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Gilberto Gil, and Bebel Gilberto. Then, in 2006, with Kassin as frontman, the album Futurismo was released (for unclear motives in three different versions, with the Japanese release being the best and most extensive one). Kassin, Domenico, and Moreno also toured with singer Adriana Calcanhotto, then calling themselves Adriana Calcanhotto+3, and Kassin has become one of Brazil's most praised producers, working with several of the country's most legendary artists. ~ Philip Jandovský