Colt Wiseman unveils Quiétudes: a cocoon of Smooth Jazz and Chillpop to finally breathe

2 days ago
4 min read

In a music world saturated with short-lived singles and loud, flashy productions, Colt Wiseman goes in the opposite direction. With Quiétudes, his second instrumental album, the Nantes-based guitarist and multidisciplinary artist delivers a work that runs counter to the surrounding noise: a sonic refuge designed to soothe, recentre, and invite contemplation.

Available since November 14, 2025 on all streaming platforms, Quiétudes follows in the footsteps of his debut album Textures, while deepening its artistic intent. More mature and more introspective, this new record firmly establishes Colt Wiseman as one of the rising voices of Smooth Jazz and Chillpop in France.

A sonic refuge between virtuosity and simplicity

From its very first bars, Quiétudes unfolds a hushed universe where every sound seems weighed, chosen, and crafted with care. Carried by Colt Wiseman’s melodic and expressive guitar, the album sets up a constant dialogue between the harmonic sophistication of jazz and the melodic immediacy of pop and chillout.

Colt Wiseman sums up his intention as follows:“With Quiétudes, I wanted to create a sound refuge, a place where the listener can settle down and breathe. It’s the balance between the complexity of emotions and the simplicity of a quiet moment, expressed through accessible melodies and sophisticated arrangements.”

With roughly 50 minutes of music, the album plays like flipping through an intimate notebook: each track appears as an emotional vignette, a suspended moment—never harsh, always nuanced.

A musician-painter who composes in colours

Originally from Poitiers and now based in Nantes, Colt Wiseman doesn’t limit himself to music: he is also developing a body of work as an abstract painter. This dual identity deeply informs his way of composing. Throughout Quiétudes, you can sense an almost pictorial sensitivity: the tracks move forward by small touches, contrasts of texture, and plays of sonic light.

The fluid guitars sometimes recall the freedom of George Benson, while certain enveloping atmospheres evoke the sensuality of Sade or the emotional intensity of Ibrahim Maalouf—not by imitation, but by a shared energy. Rather than piling up technical demonstrations, Colt favours nuance, the right gesture, the note that suggests more than it imposes.

From stage to solo: a rich journey in service of inner life

Born in 1986 into a music-loving family, Colt Wiseman started out on the saxophone at the age of eight. Very early on, he immersed himself in classical music and then jazz, multiplying experiences as a singer, guitarist, bassist, saxophonist and percussionist. He played in twelve bands of various styles before refocusing his path around a solo jazz format.

This abundant trajectory now feeds a very assured writing style. Throughout Quiétudes, you can hear the ear of a musician shaped by collective playing, who has nonetheless chosen the path of inner exploration rather than showmanship. The arrangements breathe, leaving room for silence, echo, and the listener’s imagination.

Three standout tracks to enter Quiétudes

Although the album is best enjoyed in one sitting, several tracks stand out as natural entry points into Colt Wiseman’s universe.

“Course en avant” (04:16) A piece that surprises with its luminous energy. The rhythm section, both supple and determined, gives the impression of perpetual motion, like a stride moving forward, free of anxiety. The guitar traces airy melodic lines, perfect for illustrating momentum, dynamism, and rebuilding.
“Début” (04:54) This track sounds like a new chapter. The instantly memorable melody settles in gently, while the harmony evolves with subtlety. You feel a sense of renewal, of a blank page being filled without haste. It is the kind of piece that makes you want to replay the album as soon as it ends.
“Élégance” (04:01) True to its name, this track highlights Colt Wiseman’s refined guitar playing. Everything revolves around restraint and precision: the attacks, the slides, the discreet background layers all create an impression of understated luxury, without ostentation. A perfect distillation of what Smooth Jazz can be when treated with real sensitivity.

Textures: the first steps of an inner universe

Quiétudes extends and deepens the journey begun with Textures, Colt Wiseman’s debut album. Where Textures already offered a voyage towards our “inner lands”, nourished by an energy reminiscent of Ibrahim Maalouf, guitars in the vein of George Benson and a Sade-like sensuality, the new record asserts the project’s uniqueness even more clearly.

We find the same ability to create a “meditative bubble”, but with more mature writing, a more defined sound, and an artistic vision that no longer searches for its bearings: Colt Wiseman now knows exactly what kind of experience he wants to offer.

A rising figure in French Smooth Jazz

Within the French Smooth Jazz and instrumental music landscape, Colt Wiseman is gradually emerging as a singular voice. Neither purely jazz, nor entirely pop, nor strictly chillout, his music flourishes in the in-between spaces, the meeting points. It speaks as much to lovers of rich harmonies as to those looking for a soothing soundtrack to accompany their daily lives.

With Quiétudes, he confirms his status as a rising figure on a scene that remains underexposed, yet is clearly on the rise. An album to discover both for the quality of its writing and for its power to re-enchant silence.