Diane Hubka is an American jazz guitarist and vocalist.

Career

Hubka was born in Pleasantville, NY and took violin lessons at age 6–7, then trombone age 9, and guitar when she was eleven. She learned to play folk songs

fingerstyle Fingerstyle guitar is the technique of playing the guitar or bass guitar by plucking the strings directly with the fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to fingers, as opposed to flatpicking (plucking individual notes with a single plect ...

. In 1970, the family moved to Cumberland, MD. During the 1970s her influences were The Beatles, Joni Mitchell,

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the

Allman Brothers Allman may refer to: Music *The Allman Brothers Band The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman (founder, slide guitar and lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboa ...

. She was introduced to jazz in college by her guitar teacher, Bill Bittner, and joined his quartet as a vocalist. In 1980 she moved to Washington DC and performed in local clubs including Blues Alley and Charlie's Georgetown. In 1985 she moved to New York City, where she studied voice, guitar, and piano with

Howard Alden Howard Vincent Alden (born October 17, 1958) is an American jazz guitarist born in Newport Beach, California. Alden has recorded many albums for Concord Records, including four with seven-string guitar innovator George Van Eps. Early life How ...

Gene Bertoncini Gene J. Bertoncini (born 6 April 1937) is an American jazz guitarist. Biography Bertoncini was born in New York City, where he was raised in a musical family. His father, Mario Bertoncini (1901–1978), played guitar and harmonica. Gene began pl ...

Connie Crothers Connie Crothers (May 2, 1941 – August 13, 2016) was an American jazz improviser and pianist. Early life Crothers began studying classical piano at age 9 and went on to major in composition at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkel ...

Harold Danko Harold Danko (born June 13, 1947 in Ohio) is an American jazz pianist. Danko attended Youngstown State University. Among his credits are work in the big bands of Woody Herman and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, as well as smaller ensembles with Gerry Mul ...

Barry Harris Barry Doyle Harris (December 15, 1929 – December 8, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. He was an exponent of the bebop style. Life and career Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December ...

, and

Sheila Jordan Sheila Jordan (born Sheila Jeanette Dawson; November 18, 1928) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. She has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums. Jordan pionee ...

. For many years she performed with groups in New York City and Washington, D.C.. In the 1990s she worked as a vocalist accompanying herself on jazz guitar. In 2002 she started playing

seven-string guitar The seven-string guitar adds one additional string to the more common six-string guitar, commonly used to extend the bass range (usually a low B) or also to extend the treble range. The additional string is added in one of two different ways: b ...

. She recorded her debut album, ''Haven't We Met?'' ( Challenge, 1998), with Lee Konitz,

Frank Kimbrough Frank Kimbrough (November 2, 1956 – December 30, 2020) was an American post-bop jazz pianist. He was born and raised in Roxboro, North Carolina. He did some work at Chapel Hill before moving to Washington, D. C. in 1980 and then New York City ...

, and John Hart. The album was nominated Best Recording Debut of the Year by the

Jazz Journalists Association The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) is an international organization of all types of media professionals who document, promulgate, or appreciate jazz. As of 2016, it has approximately 250 members, including professional journalists, students, ind ...

. ''You Inspire Me'' (VSOJAZ, 2001) was recorded with seven guitarists: Gene Bertoncini, Paul Bollenback, John Hart,

Romero Lubambo Romero Lubambo (born 1955) is a Brazilian jazz guitarist. Career He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He grew up with American jazz and classical music in the house because his uncle played guitar, lived next door, and visited frequently. Luba ...

Bucky Pizzarelli John Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli (January 9, 1926 – April 1, 2020) was an American jazz guitarist. He was the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and double bassist Martin Pizzarelli. He worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett (1971) ...

, Frank Vignola, and

Jack Wilkins Jack Rivers Lewis (born June 4, 1944), known professionally as Jack Wilkins, is a jazz guitarist. Career A native of New York City, Wilkins grew up listening to his parents' music, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday. He ...

. On her album ''West Coast Strings'', she was supported by another group of established guitarists: David Eastlee, Ron Escheté, Mimi Fox, Larry Koonse,

John Pisano John Pisano (born February 6, 1931) is a jazz guitarist born in Staten Island, New York. Biography Pisano has worked with Herb Alpert, Billy Bean, Chico Hamilton, Peggy Lee, and Joe Pass. Discography As leader * ''Makin' It: Guitar Duets'' wit ...

Peter Sprague Peter Tripp Sprague (born October 11, 1955) is an American jazz guitarist, record producer, and audio engineer. He owns SpragueLand Studios and the label SBE Records. He invented a twin-neck guitar with one neck from a classical guitar and one ...

, Anthony Wilson, and Barry Zweig.

Discography

* ''Haven't We Met?'' ( Challenge, 1998) * ''Look No Further'' (A Records, 2000) * ''You Inspire Me'' (VSOJAZ, 2001) * ''Diane Hubka Goes to the Movies'' (18th & Vine, 2007) * ''I Like It Here: Live in Tokyo'' (SSJ, 2008) * ''West Coast Strings'' (SSJ, 2013)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hubka, Diane Living people Year of birth missing (living people) American women guitarists American women jazz singers American jazz guitarists American jazz singers Women jazz guitarists Seven-string guitarists 21st-century American women