The TD James Moody Jazz Festival kicked off this week at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and will continue through Nov. 23.

Christian McBride, a Grammy-award winning bassist, composer and long-time jazz advisor for the festival, shared his take on the tone of the festival and the jazz legends on the line up.

“There’s always some great musicians out there doing some great things,” McBride said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “And you have to be diligent about seeing who today’s movers and shakers are in the jazz world. And you balance that with the living legends.”

McBride added that this year is a special fusion of music and social justice. The concert “Represent” focuses on the power of jazz and the spoken word, serving as commentary on what’s happening on the streets and in the world at large. Poetry and rap work in tandem to connect members of the community.

“There’s so many ways that you can channel the energy of the angst of our people in today’s climate through spoken work, through poetry, through jazz,” he said.

In addition to McBride’s profound involvement in this festival, he also works tirelessly with the organization Jazz House Kids, a nonprofit music program based in Montclair. He spoke about the importance of the arts despite being, “on the chopping block,” in today’s world.

“Young minds need to learn how to develop and flourish through the arts. It really expands the ability to understand other cultures, to have empathy, and to be able to understand what democracy truly is,” McBride said.

McBride’s latest album “Without Further Ado, Vol. 1” was released on Aug. 29. He said the record is a culmination of his time at NJPAC, because of the many artists he and his Big Band have performed with over the years, who continue to inspire his music. McBride, a nine-time Grammy winner, received three additional nominations this year.