Tal Maya was the first ensemble that Jason formed and led.  It was inspired by the group, Shakti with John McGlaughlin and included R. S. Zalman on percussion; George Peer on tabla and percussion; Jon Dicus on tabla and percussion; Kim Salsbury on violin; and James Kitagawa.  The band came to a tragic end when James was killed by a drunk driver one block from his home on the way to a L. Subramaniam concert on October 3, 1992.