The Dubai Jazz Festival returns with impressive another line-up, spanning generations and various genres. Here are all the acts taking the stage this week. <span>With</span><span> singer and rapper Lauryn Hill, it is a case of quality over quantity. Hill, </span><span>44,</span><span> has </span><span>released only one proper album, 1998's </span><span><em>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</em></span><span>, but such is the project's acclaim and influence over this generation's R</span><span>nB</span><span> and pop acts that it deserves to be heard live, no matter what period it is. </span> <span><strong>Is she jazz? </strong></span><span>While Hill is more in the R</span><span>nB and hip-hop mould, her album has plenty of jazz flourishes through its frequent use of horns. Hill's live concerts are renowned for her reworking her material – another definite jazz trait.</span> <span>The British singer-songwriter is pegged as one to watch, courtesy of his fine 2017 debut </span><span><em>A Song for Every Moon</em></span><span>. Such is his pedigree that Major, 31,</span><span> was </span><span>a guest of Sam Smith for</span><span> part of his 2018 UK</span><span> tour. </span> <span><strong>Is he jazz?</strong></span><span><strong> </strong></span><span>While Major's songs are </span><span>oriented towards radio-friendly pop, the classically trained guitarist's surprising chord changes on a few </span><span>songs will pique</span><span> the interest of jazz heads.</span> <span>Get ready for back-to-back hits all night long, as Richie</span><span> will perform tracks from his successful periods as a solo artist and as the frontman of the Commodores. </span> <strong><span>Is he jazz?</span></strong><span> Richie, 70, has been performing at international jazz festivals throughout his career. While his body of work may be firmly rooted in RnB and pop, </span><span>when he plays the trumpet and piano on certain Commodores numbers </span><span>you hear jazz</span><span> influences on 1970</span><span>s funk and RnB</span><span>.</span> <span>The much</span><span>-loved New York collective has been performing their brand of musical fusion since 1974. The have released more than 30</span><span> albums showcasing their adventurous blending of jazz, Rn</span><span>B and pop. </span> <span><strong>Are they jazz? </strong></span><span>Led by the great saxophonist Jay Beckenstein, the quintet are the most authentic act at the festival.</span> <span>The US pop group, led by affable frontman Ryan Tedder, have been consistently releasing chart-toppers over the best part of a decade. </span><span>Get ready to end the festival with a night of soaring tunes such as </span><span><em>Stop and Stare</em></span><span> and their most recent hit, </span><span><em>Rescue Me</em></span><span>. </span> <span><strong>Are they jazz?</strong></span><span> Others seem to think so. Hop</span><span> on YouTube and you can find some fine sax renditions of </span><span><em>Apologise</em></span><span> and </span><span><em>Counting Stars</em></span><span>.</span> <span>The US collective are renowned for their upbeat and joyful sets full of soul and pop tunes. </span> <span><strong>Are they jazz? </strong></span><span>The band is made up of musicians, some of whom performed with jazz purist Wynton Marsalis. Enough said.</span><span> </span> <span><em>Dubai Jazz Festival runs from today</em></span><span><em> </em></span><span><em>until Friday at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre; </em></span><span><em>tickets </em></span><span><em>from Dh350 are available at <a href="http://www.dubaijazzfest.com">www.dubaijazzfest.com</a></em></span>
