Jerry Rivera

For its gala opening, The Monaco (510 E. 31st) recruited living legend Oscar D’Leon, who has more than 60 albums to his credit. A tough act to follow, but the club has proved up to the task by booking Jerry Rivera, the only Latin artist in the tropical/salsa genre to achieve sales in excess of 5 million records worldwide and to play to sold-out crowds in every Latin American country. This five-time Grammy nominee has already rated a greatest-hits compilation (this year’s Historia I), but his youthful good looks, combined with his smoldering love-themed tunes, still make listeners swoon. Rivera will be joined on the expansive Monaco stage by the 20-piece Orquestra Salsa Mania, which provides all the necessary horn and percussion elements to ensure that dancers are kept in constant motion throughout the evening. Recent salsa shows have drawn exceptionally well, so those interested in enhancing their music vocabulary will have plenty of company if they decide to see one of salsa’s biggest names in action.