Frank Chastenier’s guest performances in our JazzLine series have always tended to feature something quite special: for instance, orchestra arrangements of pieces by Catalan composer Federico Mompou (performed by Chastenier as soloist with the WDR Big Band); soul and jazz standards with renowned bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff, or French chansons with Götz Alsmann and Pe Werner. Chastenier was a permanent member of the WDR Big Band for a quarter of a century; today, in view of his multiple ongoing activities, he is regarded as one of the most versatile pianists on the German scene. He has collaborated with a wide-ranging, highly diverse roster of artists including Till Brönner, Hildegard Knef, Wolfgang Niedecken, and Roger Willemsen; he was also the pianist in the last jazz quartet line-up of the late Rolf Kühn. In his albums as leader, Chastenier features a multicolored array of musical styles: “surprise is his second name.” For his 9th appearance at the Ruhr Piano Festival, Chastenier has chosen a selection of songs in accordance with our annual focal theme “Cosmos 1923”. All the songs are from the year 1923 but have widely varying origins, ranging from early jazz, operetta, Schlagermusik, and tango, to popular “street hits”. Surprises are guaranteed!