As a founding member and keyboard player in The Free Label Cole has performed thousands of shows around the world in all types of spaces from dive bars and clubs to major venues, arenas, upscale weddings and international events. With the group he has co-written and produced songs that have been streamed millions times, most notably their 2024 release "Songs for Sienna". Cole has a number of additional admin and creative roles in the band; video editing, copywriting, general & web admin, merch design, etc.
In 2024 alone the band has amassed over 150,000 followers on Instagram, millions of streams on Spotify, 850,000+ views on YouTube, released an album with a full-scale postering and billboard campaign, and has played well over 100+ shows across Canada and the United States. All while remaining independent.
2024 - Songs for Sienna (Full Album)
2023 - "Real Love" ft. Aaron Paris, Flara K
2023 - "Shine" ft. Braxton Cook
2022 - "Boys Don't Sob" & "On To The Next One"
2025 Canada
Cross Canada Headlining Tour (TBD)
2025 International
Prague (TBD)
2024 Canada
4x Cross Canada Headlining Tour (February, July, September, and October)
Opening for Walk Off The Earth in Kingston
Arena show at Coca-Cola Colosseum in Toronto
Opening for Sammy Rae at History in Toronto
Festivals including Riverfest Elora & Laketown Shakedown (BC)
2024 U.S.A. / International
Headlining in NYC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Berkeley, etc.
Headlining in Sydney, Melbourne in Australia
Support for Ripe in Colorado, New York & Vermont, Pennsylvania, & Massachusetts
Colleges & Universities in Louisiana, Florida, Virginia, etc.
2023 Europe
U.K., Luxembourg, The Netherlands, etc.
Opened for MonoNeon at Luxembourg Jazz Festival
2018-2022 Festivals and Special Events
Calgary Stampede, SXSW, Mariposa Folk Festival, The Ontario Winter Games, The Beaches Jazz Festival, Wapiti Music Festival,
Casa Loma, Yonge-Dundas Square, The ROM, Mississauga Celebration Square, and Koerner Hall.
Vaughan Canada Day opening for The Barenaked Ladies
Virgin Voyages
Guest Artists onboard voyages to Europe, The Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, The Caribbean
Guest Artists for Richard Branson’s Birthday Bash 2022
Headlined the New Year's Eve countdown in 2023 and 2024
CP24 Early Morning Interview for release of Songs for Sienna
Bands of Enchantment PBS (shot September 2024 in New Mexico airdate TBD)
Solo Piano
Cole has been composing and performing original piano music at concerts, festivals, restaurants, and private events around Ontario since 2012.
Patrons for solo performances include Lakehead University, The Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Canadian Federation of university women.
His solo piano work is currently focused on improvised, meditative explorations of harmony taking influence from jazz, classical, and the avant-garde.
Grant Ulysses (2015 - Present)
Life-long solo project. Truly the music that is closest to my soul.
4 albums, 3 EPs, handful of singles.
Intermittent live shows.
“Toy Camera” from the album On Suffering & Us was featured in Season 3 Episode 7 of CBC’s Kim’s Convenience.
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Music Production
Writing and Production on Track 5 "Slot Machines" on Shad's album TAO.
Production Track 1 "difficult" on Chris LaRocca's album "i cried my eyes out
Cole creates sample packs distributed privately and publicly via Nomadic Family. His samples have been used on commercial releases by Chris LaRocca and Nefiu, as well as countless independent beat tapes. Contact for commercial use.
Band of People / Shane Philips
I call it "Psychedelic Soul"
Played dozens of gigs covering a wide range of 60's, 70's, 80's soul music, as well as funk, motown, traditional RnB, rock, etc. with intense and long-form rock/jazz fusion solos
Residencies around Toronto at Reservoir Lounge, Mrs. Robinson, Function Bar, etc.
One time Drake and his dad sat in
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JC3 / Diskarte (2017-2021)
Founding member of the Hip Hop / fazz fusion trio JC3 with Jon Catanaus and Peter Eratostene.
Monthly concert series in partnership with 187 Augusta from 2017 - 2019.
Expanded to 10-piece ensemble for their four “Music of Nujabes” tribute concerts, culminating at a sold out show at the Drake Underground in October 2019 and a supporting role at the sold out Shing02 concert at the Velvet Underground. Cole re-joined the group in the summer of 2024 for two shows at Apt 200 in Toronto.
Current lineup includes Jon Catanus, Caleb Klager, Victor Xu, and Bjorn Kriel under the name "Diskarte".
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The Slakadeliqs (2018-2019)
Member of the band for legendary Canadian producer Slakah The Beatchild
Performed live on Q with Tom Power on CBC Radio (2018)
Live performance at Drake Underground in 2019
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University of Toronto
jazz combos
world music groups
ensemble specializing in contemporary free improvisation led by Dani Oore.
In 2015 Cole co-founded art collective and record label Nomadic Family. As of 2025 they have released 35+ works and organized dozens of live events in Toronto and around Ontario. They currently serve as the distributor for Grant Ulysses and a few of Cole's close friends.
False Apollo is the parent company of Nomadic Family and Cole's other professional services. Through this company Cole provides mentorship & consulting, audio/video production, and graphic design.
Cole has had a love for jazz from a young age, and has been improvising on the piano since his lessons and practice first began. He completed Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 Piano under Blair Bailey, and has studied jazz piano under Juno Award winning pianist Lance Anderson. At York University he was a student of internationally acclaimed pianist and bandleader Steve Koven. At the University of Toronto he studied jazz piano performance under David Restivo and Mark Eisenman.
University of Toronto / B.F.A. in Jazz Piano Performance
September 2016 - June 2018, on approved academic hiatus
Studied under many of Canada’s best musicians to gain a practical foundation in the live performance of jazz piano. At this world-class institute I developed my abilities to do rigorous scholarly research, reading and writing at a post-secondary level. In 2018 I was granted a hiatus from my studies to pursue career development with an international performance contract with The Free Label.York University / B.F.A. in Jazz Piano Performance
September 2015 - June 2016
Studied and practiced for one year to advance skills.Toronto Arts Council - Music Creation and Audio Recording - 2019
Toronto Arts Council - Music Creation and Audio Recording - 2018
UofT Academic Scholarship, Half of Tuition - 2017/2018
UofT Academic Scholarship, Half of Tuition - 2016/2017
ODAC Emerging Artist Award
Patrick Fogarty Jazz Band Award
Orillia Kiwanis Music Festival Best Improvised Piano Solo
Court Stone Memorial Scholarship for Composition, 2nd
Giovanna and Perri Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts