Dinah Washington and Quincy Jones were her godparents. She debuted at the Apollo at age 4. Patti Austin, at 57, has enjoyed a durable and diverse career, one that's ranged from anonymous session work to a handful of hits in the '80s, including "Baby, Come to Me," a duet with James Ingram that reached No. 1 on the pop charts in 1982. But Austin has always liked to infuse a fair amount of jazz into her cosmopolitan R&B sound, and in recent years, that jazz sensibility has increased. Which brings us to this weekend's show, a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald backed by The Florida Orchestra, and directed by principal pops conductor Richard Kaufman. Fri., Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa; Sat., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., Pasadena Community Church, St. Petersburg; Sun., Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $15.50-$52.50, 813-286-2403 or www.floridaorchestra.org.
