They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, but in the case of singer Rip Crystal, it's his voice. Grammy nominated jazz pianist Mike Melvoin has said, "Rip channels the music of the American songbook, transporting himself back to the time they were written. It's in his blood. When you hear him interpret these timeless classics, it's as if you've never heard them before. He's unafraid to expose his inner most being. His rich baritone surrounds you with warmth, texture and you believe every word he sings."
   Maybe that’s because Rip grew up surrounded by legends of jazz. His father, Jack, produced jazz concerts and managed the legendary Commodore Music Shop in Manhattan. His mother's older brother, Milt Gabler, was one of the great music producers of the 20th century. The head of A & R at Decca Records for thirty years, Milt produced everything from "Strange Fruit" with Billie Holiday to "Rock Around the Clock" with Bill Haley and the Comets. So it's no wonder that this music is in his blood.
   Rip could always sing. He was the star of his high school musical, appeared on the Kraft Music Hall at the age of nineteen and went on to a career in musical theatre starring in "The Fantasticks," "Jacques Brel," "Bye, Bye, Birdie," and musical revues such as "What’s A Nice Country Like You Doing In A State Like This?" and "Nash at Nine." But after moving to Los Angeles in 1975, he found shrinking outlets for his vocal talents and began writing and producing television specials, series, movies for television and feature films.
   Everything changed after the passing of his mother several years ago. Rip's brothers asked him to sing at her funeral and after performing Rodgers and Hart's "You're Nearer" with composer Marc Shaiman at the piano, Rip knew that he needed to return to his first love.
   Upon returning to his home in Los Angeles, he contacted jazz virtuoso Mike Melvoin and with Brian Bromberg on bass and the late John Guerin on drums, Rip went into the studio and recorded his first album. The result was the touching “Nearer” dedicated to his late mother. As brother Billy said in a recent interview, "he hasn't stopped singing since."
   Since the release of “Nearer”, Rip has performed at the Friars Club both in New York and Los Angeles; a series of appearances at Feinsteins at the Regency Hotel in New York; the Gardenia Supper Club in Hollywood; the Joslyn Center Theatre in Palm Desert and most recently The Hideaway Room at Helen's in Manhattan. Selections from “Nearer” , his "Live in Hollywood" CD and “Soul to Soul” - Rip’s tribute to Harold Arlen which was recorded live in New York - are now being played on radio stations across the country. He recently was featured on jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli's syndicated radio show “Radio Deluxe”, for an in depth interview including musical selections from his recordings.
   His latest CD, “Smooth”, a musical odyssey for voice and guitar featuring John Chiodini, spans over eighty years of American popular music. It is soon to be released…