About João Carlos Martins João Carlos Martins (born 1940) is a Brazilian classical pianist. He recorded the complete keyboard works of Bach. Martins made his Boston debut in 1969 in the Peabody Mason Concert series, and was once called one of the best Bach pianists after Glenn Gould. While an illness in his hands causes him problems, he continued for some time playing with his left hand and one right finger. After his career finished due to other events and more illnesses in both his hands, he turned to conducting, despite very limited hand-movements.