GF: Young people have always gotten into Ella's rhythms. They seem to understand that much of rock and punk comes from jazz. Nobody gets tempos like Ella...

AL: What are your all-time Ella favorites?

GF: Most of my favorites are things Ella did live in concert. Her "Mack the Knife" and "How High the Moon" are classic examples of jazz improvisation. And no one can sing "Too Close for Comfort" like Ella did.

AL: Does Ella have the same allure for gays that Judy Garland had?

GF: I don't think anyone has the allure for gays that Judy had. Ella has always had a wide range of admirers, young and old, gay and straight.. However, she especially appeals to sensitive people in her ballads. Play an Ella ballad with a cat in the room, and the animal will invariably go up to the speaker, lie down and purr.

AL: Why has there been some criticism of Ella by African-Americans?

GF: Perhaps it was because she appealed to a mass, usually white audience, while others were limited to African- American audiences only. In reality, no one broke more color barriers than Ella...

AL: What Ella compact disks would you recommend for the beginner?

GF: "The Best of The Songbooks" (Verve), "The First Lady of Song" (Verve) "The Perfect Match" (Pablo) The latter album is from an Ella and Basie concert...

AL: Two legends in one....