Eclectica

ECLECTICA is a music project devised originally by three New York City based composers and songwriters with a variety of backgrounds: Marta Hernández, Liz Taub and Victor Weiss, reaching its full sound with the joining by the accomplished musician and singer Alfonso Cid. Although influenced by different styles such as Flamenco, Folk, Latin, Bossa Nova, Blue Grass, Celtic and Old Timey, their music has developed more toward a "latin" sound, prevailing the Rumba flamenca, Brazilian rhythms and Spanish pop. They experiment with their compositions, blending these different styles, mixing unusual rhythms, venturing into new sounds.MARTA SEVILLA (Marta Hernández), lead vocalist and main songwriter of the group. She plays Spanish guitar and castanets. Born and raised in Seville, she came to NYC in 1987, where she met many artists, collaborating with them singing, dancing and acting, while teaching wild teenagers in Brooklyn. Her dream was always to be a singer in a band, so she started writing her own songs, mixing her flamenco style with sounds ranging from American folk to Brazilian bossa nova. She met Victor Weiss and Liz Taub and together created Eclectica.LIZ TAUB plays violin and mandolin in the band. Past bands she played in include Susquehanna River Basin Band, The Hard Times Band, and Stonewall Junction. Her versatile abilities allow her to perform all types of music, from classical to country, from klezmer to jazz. She is a mother, musician and songwriter. Her original tunes have been showcased in her band to positive acclaim. Liz enjoys playing for all ages. As a pre-kindergarten social worker, she plays and teaches young children, and their parents, music. She helps them to express their creativity through musical instruments in an improvisational manner. Music permeates her life in a wonderful way.ALFONSO CID was born and raised in Seville, the heartland of Flamenco music. His mother, an amateur singer from Triana, a Flamenco enclave in Seville, and his grandfather, an aficionado of Flamenco were his earliest influences. Alfonso enrolled at the Seville Conservatory in 1990 to study flute and music theory. For the following 5 years he received a classical training. Since his arrival in New York in 1997, Alfonso has played with Flamenco artists, such as: Pilar Rioja, Andrea Del Conte, Nelida Tirado, Sara Erde, La Conja, José Junco, Oscar Valero, Carmen Romero, Edwin Aparicio, to name a few. Flamenco guitarists: Chuscales, Arturo Martínez, Pedro Cortés, Carlos Rubio, Roberto Castellón, Carlos Revollar, Miguel de la Bastide. He has performed in the following venues: Town Hall with the World Music Institute, London's Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Sala Covarrubias in Mexico City, Carnegie Hall ( Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall) , Joyce Theater, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Symphony Space, Merkin Concert Hall, Caramoor music festival, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, The Spanish Theatre Repertory, Thalia Spanish Theatre, The Theater for the New City, El Taller Latino Americano and many of the flamenco tablaos throughout the tri-state area. Alfonso has his own group, "Gazpacho andalu".