Asha Puthli

Asha Puthli

Asha Puthli is a vocalist from Mumbai, India, born in 1945. She is associated with jazz, and her work also spans funk, soul and electronic dance music.

Career

Raised in Bombay, she trains in Indian classical singing and develops a jazz style rooted in improvisation. She moves to the United States to pursue jazz and is supported early in that career by Columbia Records figure John Hammond, who sends her to record with Ornette Coleman.

She is particularly known for her vocals on Coleman’s Science Fiction album, which brings her recognition in jazz circles. Her performance on that record leads to a DownBeat Critics’ Poll award for best female jazz vocalist, placing her alongside singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Recording work

Puthli records ten solo albums for labels including EMI and CBS/Sony. Her 1970s recordings establish a distinctive sound described through songs such as “Space Talk” and “Say Yes”, with a cool, relaxed style that later attracts listeners in acid jazz, ambient dance music, hip-hop, neo-soul, nu-jazz and electronica.

Style and legacy

Her singing is described as combining Indian raga influences with the feel of American soul, and she is regarded as a cosmopolitan figure in jazz, funk and soul. She is also associated with a later rediscovery of her catalogue by fans of sample-based and electronic styles.