Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps plays music from around the world and uses it as a launching pad for improvisations that never lose their sense of groove—whether it’s Colombian cumbias, Ethiopian jazz, Romanian horas, Argentinian tangos, or traditional music from the United States.
Based in New Haven, CT, the five-piece—Chris Cretella on guitar, Adam Matlock on accordion and vocals, Michael Paolucci on drums, Brian Slattery on violin, banjo, trombone and vocals, and Mike Tepper on bass—has opened for Xenia Rubinos, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and the Krar Collective (from Ethiopia). Apart, they have toured the country and ventured into Europe, performing everything from Appalachian fiddle to funk and reggae to experimental new music. Together, they have put on evenings of songs by Kurt Weill and Ennio Morricone and performed back-to-back sold-out sets of music from Twin Peaks. All along, they work up original material by Matlock under his own songwriting project, An Historic.
Always curious, always ready to try new music, Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps moves from genre to genre with a style that’s all its own.
