The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra does its best to bring in guest performers who enhance the show. At Tuesday night's concert, singer Deborah Brown went one step further and stole the show.

The KJO's tribute to Ella Fitzgerald featured Brown singing the tunes that defined the jazz songstress' career. Fitzgerald is one of the greats to whom modern vocalists are compared. 

While most fall short of the huge and timeless sound of Fitzgerald, Brown is as close as it gets.

"She is probably the best musician I have ever worked with." Vance Thompson, director of the KJO, on the talent of Debroah Brown.

The concert opened with an instrumental featuring a choreographed trombone section before Brown took the stage.

The brass and saxophones took a backseat to the talent of Brown, who impressed the crowd with the range of her powerful voice.  Her scat singing caused some double takes, even from Thompson and members of the band.

Brown also sang three songs accompanied by University of Tennessee guitar professor Mark Boling. "[He is] Knoxville's own Joe Pass," Brown said in reference to the albums that Fitzgerald recorded with guitar virtuoso Joe Pass.

After a few more tunes, Brown closed the show with an arrangement of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" that drew a triple ovation.

It was the second time that Brown had performed with the KJO. Thompson was excited to have her back.

"We don't know what our program for next season will be, [but] I'll have to think about what can follow this concert," Thompson said after the show.

The KJO typically has four concerts in a season.  Tuesday's show, the last of the year, was a "tribute" theme.  For information about the upcoming season, visit the KJO's website.