Jazz pianist Chucho Valdés, one of the most influential innovators in Cuban music, will take the stage at UNC’s Memorial Hall Tuesday. His early 1970s group, Irakere, revolutionized Latin music with an explosive blend of jazz, rock, classical and tradition Cuban styles, and since Valdés has performed with The Afro-Cuban Messengers, winning the 2011 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album with Chucho’s Steps. 919-843-3333, http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org

Every year for at least two decades Philip G. Metz painted a portrait of Santa Claus as a family Christmas present. His daughter, Nancy Campbell, kept all those paintings, and today will open an exhibition of them at the Burwell School Historic Site on Churton Street in Hillsborough. The site is open Wednesdays through Sundays. 919-732-7451, burwellschool.org

Chapel Hill’s American Idol finalist Anoop Desai will celebrate the release of his new EP “3 Cheer” with a performance at 9 p.m. tonight at Top of the Hill restaurant, along with special guests Phive. Desai will do a full show at the Cat’s Cradle on Nov. 29. AnoopDesai.com