Tune for Monty is an original jazz composition by Anthony D'Alessandro, a Toronto-based pianist, composer, and bandleader. D'Alessandro wrote the piece during his undergraduate years at the University of Toronto, inspired by the music of Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander and specifically by Alexander's ensemble the Harlem-Kingston Express, which blended Jamaican elements of reggae, ska, and R&B with the jazz and bebop of New York City. D'Alessandro set out to capture the energy of Alexander's live performances, crafting a simple melody over a calypso groove similar to the grooves he had heard Alexander bring the house down with in live settings. The tune was first released on D'Alessandro's 2024 debut album Searchin', a self-produced collection of five original compositions each drawing from different facets of his musical interests. The recording features Benny Benack III on trumpet. Within the album, Tune for Monty stands alongside pieces ranging from the boogie-woogie influenced Golden Mean to the swing-oriented Outbreak, demonstrating D'Alessandro's compositional range across jazz subgenres. The composition earned recognition when it was selected for CBC Music's Songs You Need to Hear list in May 2024. No cover versions by other artists have been documented.
