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.
| 1988 | Look Both Ways | Bones & Wheats Music |
| 1990 | 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 |
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
“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!”
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
“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.”
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
“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.”
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
“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.”
1997 Grrr Records (D3511)
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”
(…to be continued…)