Brett started playing at the age of ten with Bream Band in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire, before moving to Lydbrook Band, with whom he won many prizes at local festivals and solo contests.. In 1989 at sixteen he joined championship section Flowers Band and the National Youth Brass Band where he served two years as principal trombone. In 1991 he also became an associate of the Royal College of Music. His teachers at this time were Steve Walkley and Lyndon Baglin. In 1992 Brett moved north to Salford University to read Business Economics. He was also a finalist in the BBC's Young Musician of the Year and soon afterwards Brett became the trombone tutor at University College Salford. In addition he was a finalist in the British Open Solo Championships in 1990, 1992, and 1993, becoming Trombone Solo Champion in 1993 and 1994.

It was during the middle nineties that Brett established a reputation as one of the finest players of his generation. His first solo recording "Bone Idle" was completed in 1996. His advisors then were Christopher Houlding and Denis Wick. He returned to Gloucestershire in 1997 winning the soloist prize at the Yeovil Entertainment Contest with Flowers Band. Brett also recorded two further solo CD's firstly " Bakers Dozen" in 1998 and a joint CD with cornetist lan Porthouse entitled "Phenomenon" in 1999. In addition he has commissioned several works for trombone by leading composers, including Rodney Newton, Robin Dewhurst, Philip Sparke, Philip Harper, Darrol Barry, Martin Ellerby and Paul Lovett-Cooper.

Brett has taken part in Bath International Festival as a featured soloist and has played as a soloist in the Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall in London, the Symphony Hall Birmingham and Bridgewater Hall Manchester. In 1999 he had an extensive tour of New Zealand and Australia. In 2000 he gave recitals at the National Arts Club and New York Brass Conference in America and in 2001 workshops and concerts with Northshore Concert Band Chicago USA.