Album Notes

The CD consists of newly-recorded acoustic guitar solos by Ventresco, an immensely talented 32-year old musician and music historian who formed the Bay Area group Bo Grumpus in the late 1980s.

"The Past is Yet to Come" features jazz, ragtime, blues, and folk styles from around the turn of the century, performed in a highly intense, intimate and infectious manner.

Ventresco's tastes are unfettered by music in the modern era; he has instead concentrated on early 20th century vaudeville, ragtime, and popular songs as recorded on obscure 78s and cylinders from the dawn of the recorded music era.

The CD includes music written by Eubie Blake, Scott Joplin, Big Bill Broonzy, James Scott, Lucky Roberts, and a Ventresco original as well.

Ventresco's style brings forth images of Blind Blake, Lemon Jefferson, and other street performers of the '20s and '30s.

He learns most of his repertoire by ear, and his raucous yet sensitive playing style (developed by playing on the streets of San Francisco) is a welcome alternative to the scholarly, delicate approach that usually characterizes ragtime guitar recordings.

His playing was featured on the soundtrack album for the film "Crumb." The CD features notes by Barry Hansen (Dr.Demento), and glorious monaural sound free of added reverb or compression.