James Tabata serves as Adjunct Faculty in Music at Austin Community College, where he teaches composition, American music history, and ensemble. He is also teaches private composition and bass lessons throughout Austin.

Based in Austin, TX, James Tabata is an active composer, bassist, and singer-songwriter. With the subject matter of his music standing for the values of identify in heritage, race, and sexual orientation, James writes primarily to inspire empathy and hope through means of intimate, engaging sound and visceral poetry. James’ music has been performed in Alice Tully Hall in New York, Italy, Toronto, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. He has received honors from the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Awards and has been a featured artists for concert series by The Church of the Friendly Ghost and Density 512. James is the lead singer and songwriter for the orchestral indie band Maru, frequently performing throughout Austin and recording an album at Red Star Mule Barn. He is also the director and music arranger for Less Than 10 Music, a variety ensemble of Austin all-stars.

James is the proud parent of two Shibas, Haruki and Fuyumi. In his free time, he makes sure the two stay out of trouble.