Went to see Patti Austin Tuesday night at the Dakota Jazz Club and a Bette Midler concert broke out. Well, it almost seemed like that. Like Midler in concert, Austin spent much of her time talking and telling jokes. She was smart, sassy and quick. And LOL funny. She dissed the Grammys (and Diana Krall), "Black Swan" (and the Oscars) and reality TV ("Celebrity Apprentice" and "Dancing with People You've Heard of Once Before"). She mocked modern communication (at one point, she made a faux pas and said TMF when she meant TMI -- but maybe she intended the F-word after all). She made countless self-deprecating jokes, especially about being a childless, never-married woman of 60. And she did vocal impressions of Jimmy Cliff, Germans (she's recorded a few albums in Germany), Frank Sinatra, Midler (without most people realizing it) and Ella Fitzgerald. Actually, the show was a salute to Ella – in stories and in song. Yes, during the terrifically entertaining 1 3/4-hour second set of the night, Austin sang 12 songs – 11 associated with Ella and one about her (in other words, all the material on Austin's 2002 disc on Playboy Jazz, "For Ella"). A versatile vocalist who has done everything from jingles to Broadway to hit singles, Austin proved to be an alluring jazz singer. Her control, diction and phrasing were impeccable, her confidence unimpeachable and her personality immense, in a show-bizzy kind of way. Backed by her understated touring trio, she was relaxed and effortless, whether using a sweet, small voice on "Honeysuckle Rose," doing a bluesy gospel raveup on an otherwise quiet "Miss Otis Regrets" or scatting merrily on "How High the Moon.." Austin did not sing one number associated with her own considerable career in R&B and pop – no "The Heat of the Heat" (produced by Minneapolis own Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis), "Baby, Come to Me" or "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" – or anything from her Grammy-winning 2007 album "Avant Gershwin." Still, she made many friends on Tuesday night. Austin will perform again at 7 and 9 p.m Wednesday at the Dakota. Tuesday's second set: Too Close for Comfort/ Honeysuckle Rose/ You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paginini)/ Love Is Here To Stay/ A Tisket A Tasket/ Miss Otis Regrets/ Hard Hearted Hannah/ But Not for Me/ Satin Doll/ The Man I Love/ How High the Moon ENCORE Hearing Ella Sing