Seriously though,

We've been seeing urban, rock, indie and dance acts at Major Jazz festivals (montreux etc) for years now.

Nothing new here.

hA. Except these are the headliners. Jazz = Rock now?

I'm very surprised as Dubai has such a rich jazz history. 

maybe one should know the history of dubai jazz fest first before commenting on things? =)

maybe one should know the history of dubai jazz fest first before commenting on such? =)

They are changing the name and calling it a Pazz festival

The title of the festival and the acts give you a good image about the quality of their audience. A festival like this will not last to do its 2nd year with a Name vs. Acts like these. 

but Dubai Jazz Festival has been running for ten years now, the 2013 edition will be it's 11th

Who might headline at the Dubai rock festival I wonder? Julie Andrews perhaps.

'jazz' is unfortunately just an English word that carries cool connotation, that's all.  it's about selling tickets 

I sincerely hope you meant:

"'jazz' is unfortunately just an English word that carries cool connotation FOR THE PROMOTERS AND ORGANIZERS OF THIS CONCERT IN DUBAI, that's all."

A fact of life - everybody likes to say they like jazz, because the word implies sophistication, but few actually like to listen to it. When my musician friends decry smooth jazz, I remind them that there are great painters bemoaning the success of Kincade, and great writers aghast about "50 Shades Of Grey". The average Joe just doesn't think about art that deeply, and we forget all the listening we had to do to develop connoisseurship.

unbelievable! I'll go over and do a jazz standard set before...