====== The Crossing ====== Traditional Celtic Folk\\ Chicago, Illinois, USA "The Crossing is a celtic folk group that utilizes fiddle, cello, flute, whistles, guitars, bodhrans (frame drums), harp and bagpipes to bring alive the essential jigs and reels. Their original songs carry on the centuries-old tradition of good storytelling found in the celtic lands. Add their rich harmonizing vocals, and the result is captivating and energizing. The Crossing has been entertaining audiences since 1984, playing concert halls, pubs, gatherings, churches, Irish fairs and festivals." The Crossing was formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1984 by front man Tony Krogh. Originally a bluegrass band, after some member changes in 1985 they switched to traditional Celtic. Tony teamed up with Pat Peterson and together wrote most of the music and lyrics. Fiddle player Jennifer Ingerson, flute player Mark Hall, and guitarist Mike Baznik rounded out the ensemble, with each member adding creative input and vocal harmonies. They put out their first album //Look Both Ways// in 1988. In 1989 they asked cellist Hilde Bialach to join, and the group would remain unchanged for 10 years. Their second studio album, //Rise and Go//, was released in 1990. Both of their first albums would later be re-released by [[Grrr Records]] in a combined package in 1998. Their third album, //Dancing at the Crossroads//, was released in 1993 with [[Grrr Records]]. The group's fourth studio album, //Dochas: Hope//, was released in 1996 with [[Grrr Records]]. Their fifth studio album, //The Court of a King: A Celtic Christmas Celebration//, was released in 1998 by [[Grrr Records]]. In 1999, Pat Peterson left the band amicably to pursue other interests. Since Pat was the main player of bodhran and bones, the band had to decide whether or not to find a replacement, and opted to have Baznik and Hall learn how to play bodhran. Hall also learned bones. They played their last show with Peterson at [[Cornerstone Festival]] 1999. They continued as a five-member band for another three years. In February 2002 Baznik announced he was leaving the band but committed to finishing //Standing Stones//, which was released in July. They played their final show with Baznik at Cornerstone Festival 2002. They asked Eric Clayton to join in Fall 2002. Clayton played guitar and was familiar with percussion, but was unfamiliar with the Celtic style, and had to learn bouzouki and bodhran, while also learning the lyrics of the //Standing Stones// album so they could tour. They eventually released //Baile (Home)// in 2010. After a long hiatus of releasing albums, they released //'Til We Meet Again// in 2021. ===== Discography ===== | 1988 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/the-crossing-look-both-ways/|Look Both Ways]] | Bones & Wheats Music | | 1990 | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/the-crossing-rise-and-go/|Rise and Go]] | Bones & Wheats Music / [[Grrr Records]] | | 1993 | Dancing at the Crossroads | [[Grrr Records]] | | 1996 | Dochas: Hope | [[Grrr Records]] | | 1997 | Look Both Ways / Rise and Go | [[Grrr Records]] | | 1998 | The Court of a King: A Celtic Christmas Celebration | [[Grrr Records]] | | 2002 | Standing Stones | [[Grrr Records]] | | 2010 | Baile (Home) | [[Grrr Records]] | | 2021 | 'Til We Meet Again | [[Grrr Records]] | ------ ==== Look Both Ways ==== 1988 Bones & Wheats Music Tony Krogh - Vocals, guitar, mandolin, bagpipes\\ Pat Peterson - Bodhran, whistle, bones, vocals\\ Jennifer Mullen - Fiddle, vocals\\ Mark Hall - Flute, whistle, vocals\\ Mike Baznik - Guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals - Kesh Jig / Road to Lisdoonvarna / Campbell's Farewell to Redgap - My Son / Home in the Morning - Carpenter / Ten-Penny Bit - The Cold Within - Jennifer's Favorite / The Blarney Pilgrim / The Swallowtail Jig - No Easy Answer / Haughs of Cromdale "//Look Both Ways// was recorded May of 1988 in our practice studio at 'Maggie' (a four-story apartment building in Chicago owned by [[Jesus People USA]], our community). Ed Bialach engineered. We put together //Look Both Ways// for our fans at [[Cornerstone Festival]]. We manufactured 100 cassettes, pretty sure that would get us by. We ended up taking orders for a hundred more tapes at the festival!" ------ ==== Rise and Go 1990 ==== 1990 Bones & Wheats Music / [[Grrr Records]] (BWM 002) Tony Krogh - Lead vocals, bouzouki, guitar, bowed psaltery, Highland pipes, whistle\\ Mike Baznik - Guitar, bouzouki, harmony vocals\\ Pat Peterson - Bodhran, whistle, lap dulcimer, vocals\\ Jennifer Mullen - Fiddle, harmony vocals, lead vocals on "Be Thou My Vision"\\ Mark Maguirre Hall - Harp, flute, lap dulcimer, harmony vocals\\ Hilde Bialach - Cello, harmony vocals - What Will Ye Do - November Child - Lovely Joan / James Cameron Stuart / Mark's Wedding / Donor Wants Her Kidney Back - None But One - Roslyn Castle - Feel Like a Robber / Buy New Boots for Maggie - Be Thou My Vision - Rise Ye Up and Go - Aran Butterfly - Parting Song / Deliverance "//Rise and Go// grew out of attempts to capture a 'live' sound in a recording. We taped a few concerts, but technology was not our strong suit, and in 1990 we ended up at Tone Zone Recording. Roger Heiss recorded us direct to DAT." ------ ==== Dancing at the Crossroads ==== 1993 [[Grrr Records]] (GR2004) Tony Krogh - Vocals, Highland pipes, Uilleann pipes, guitar, bouzouki\\ Mike Baznik - Bouzouki, guitar, keyboards, vocals\\ Pat Peterson - Bodhrán, whistle, bones, vocals\\ Jennifer (Mullen) Ingerson - Fiddle, vocals\\ Mark Hall - Flute, harp, dulcimer, whistle, vocals\\ Hilde Bialach - Cello, vocals, piano, keyboards - Pawky Adam Glen / O'Neill's March (Pipe Set) (3:32) - The Rigs (5:32) - Bold Little Preacher (4:41) - Dancing at the Crossroads (Reels) (4:26) - There Were Roses (7:02) - Swag the Hardy Piper (Slip Jigs) (3:55) - Winter (3:17) - Redhaired Reels (Reels) (3:59) - Joseph's Son (5:27) - Farewell to the Max / Athol Highlanders (Pipe Set) (5:51) - Ecstasy (3:33) "Gathering at the crossroads was a common occurrence in times past, mostly in the rural parts of Ireland. It was a chance for people to share the joys and burdens of daily life, keep up with the community's news and events, and dance their cares away. This is the spirit of //Dancing at the Crossroads//. We hope you'll catch a glimpse of this kind of celebration through our music." ------ ==== Dochas: Hope ==== 1996 [[Grrr Records]] (GRR 2005) Tony Krogh - Vocals, guitar, bouzouki, didgeridoo, bodhrán, whistle\\ Mike Baznik - Guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, acoustic bass, dulcimer, vocals\\ Pat Peterson - Bodhrán, whistle, bones, vocals\\ Jennifer Ingerson - Fiddle, vocals\\ Mark Hall - Flute, harp, vocals\\ Hilde Bialach - Vocals, cello - Sound of Sleat / A Swarm of Saints (2:45) - Close to the Edge (4:37) - Dochás (2:29) - Planting a Garden (3:39) - Refugee (3:21) - Castle Kelly / Mike's Reel (5:33) - Someone Who Knows Your Name / Hugh Healy's (6:34) - Psalm / Dominic MacGowan (5:48) - Jiggle the Handle (2:23) - End of the Day (3:36) - Paddy's Leather Britches / Jig of Slurs (4:19) "As we worked on the songs for this album, hope seemed to be the overriding theme of the material. In the book of Hebrews, the author writes, 'We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul...' (Heb. 6:19). Our main hope is for each of you to have an enduring, loving relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." ------ ==== Look Both Ways / Rise and Go ==== 1997 [[Grrr Records]] (D3511) - Kesh Jig / Road to Lisdoonvarna / Campbell's Farewell to Redgap (4:03) - My Son / Home With the Girls in the Morning (4:25) - Carpenter (Lord of All) / Ten-Penny Bit (3:49) - The Cold Within (2:53) - Jennifer's Favorite / The Blarney Pilgrim / Swallowtail Jig (5:08) - No Easy Answer / Haughs of Cromdale (4:33) - What Will Ye Do? (5:32) - November Child (3:28) - Lovely Joan / James Cameron Stuart / Mark's Wedding / Donor Wants Her Kidney Back (5:31) - None But One (5:14) - Roslyn Castle (3:00) - Feel Like a Robber / Buy New Boots For Maggie (3:36) - Be Thou My Vision (3:12) - Rise Ye Up and Go (4:19) - Aran Boat / Red Admiral Butterfly (5:20) - Parting Song / Deliverance (5:04) ------ ==== The Court of a King: A Celtic Christmas Celebration ==== 1998 [[Grrr Records]] (GRD 3525) Tony Krogh - Vocals, didgeridoo, Uilleann pipes, bass, bodhrán, Highland pipes, backing vocals\\ Mike Baznik - Guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, bodhrán, backing vocals\\ Pat Peterson - Bodhrán, whistle, cello, backing vocals\\ Jennifer Ingerson - Fiddle, backing vocals\\ Mark Hall - Flute, whistle, harp, dulcimer, backing vocals\\ Hilde Bialach - Vocals, cello, piano, tambourine, finger cymbals, backing vocals Scott Knies - Doumbek on "Three Little Drummers" - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (2:52) - Righteous Joseph (3:07) - Dark the Night (4:07) - That Night in Bethlehem (6:48) - The Christ Child's Lullaby (5:39) - Bethlehem Blue (3:38) - In Dulci Jubilo (5:03) - Three Little Drummers (4:44) - Mitt Hjerce Alltio Vanker (5:35) - God Rest You Merry (3:01) - The Court of the King (3:06) - Emmanuel (reprise) (3:56) ------ //(...to be continued...)// ------ ===== Links ===== * [[https://thecrossing.bandcamp.com/|The Crossing on BandCamp]] * [[https://www.grrrrecords.com/crossing|The Crossing on Grrr Records' website]] {{tag>celtic folk chicago united_states 1988 1990 1993 1996 1997 1998}}