Welcome to Brett Marvin.

Featured video:
In the Kitchen at Parties - KEEF TROUBLE Jona Lewie - HI DEF

Watch the series of Brett Keef Trouble interviews with Kokomo singer Frank Collins, and songwriter and guitarist Adam Phillips, here:
http://uk.youtube.com/user/OMa lleyTony

About Me: All BrettMarvin's uploads are original.
They are of the Bretts themselves,
those associated with the Bretts, or
those who just appreciate the Bretts.
And, of course, they are all copyright!

Recently featured vids:
'EDDY ARMANI - Hot Legs' from OmalleyTony
'Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins - Poor Boy Blues' from Trickdice
'29 Ways' from Harpdog
'ANDY NEWMARK - an interview' from OmalleyTony
'Doctor My Eyes' from volleyballjones
'Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo - Ain't no Bread in the Breadbox' from Recoaro
'Bluegrass Crossroads' from volleyballjones
'Wham Bam' from groanbox
'Papa George Nite with you' from LionGateVideo
'Paul Lamb' from kevyp

Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts has been a popular live act for 40 years. The mainstream hit single 'Seaside Shuffle,' released under the one-off nom-de-disque Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs, reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart, with the Brett's keyboard/vocalist Jona Lewie, of 'Stop the Cavalry' notability.

A long-standing touring act for blues clubs, colleges and festivals throughout Europe and the UK, Brett Marvin was invited to play at London's famous Studio 51 Club by renowned blues singer Jo Ann Kelly. It became the resident band running the Sunday session as a drop-in spot for blues musicians. Amongst the notable contributors to Brett Marvin sessions were: Howlin' Wolf, Arthur Crudup, Fred McDowell, Sam Mitchell, Bottleneck Bill, Roy Bookbinder, Juke Boy Bonner, Dave Kelly, Medicine Head, Steve Miller Band, Lol Coxhill, Mick Taylor, Larry Johnson, Tony McPhee, John Dummer, The Groundhogs and Long John Baldry.


KEEF TROUBLE and the Brett Marvin ZOB STICK:'

Although it is now an accepted, and probably the most commonly-used, name for this type of instrument, the Zob Stick as a term has a definitive and recent origin.

In the late 1960s Keef Trouble built a blues percussion instrument that has become iconic. He gave it the new name - Zob Stick; its use being termed zobbing. It was largely based on the traditional Australian folk music instrument, the Lagerphone.

Keef Trouble first encountered this type of instrument when he met folk singer Martyn Wyndham-Read, who had just returned from Australia, in 1968. Wyndham-Read spoke of the aboriginal rhythm stick that used attached shells. After constructing his version of the instrument, the term 'zob' was used because of its risqué connotation as UK naval slang, this suggested by fellow Brett Marvin band member, and ex-seaman, Jim Pitts. The instrument caused amusement when it was introduced in performance in France, where the word 'zob' has a similar meaning.

The Keef Trouble Zob Stick construction uses a pole that is covered with the usual partially nailed-in rattle-capable beer bottle caps. A circular solid wooden ring, edged with bottle caps, is added near the top of the pole, with a hand grip section beneath. All the wooden parts are brightly painted. At the bottom a boot, supported by an internal wooden block, is added, with a metal spring attached to the sole. The spring serves no musical purpose but has comedy potential. Half way up the pole is a sleeved-on metal tube for greater volume and a crisper percussive sound. The Zob Stick is rhythmically bounced on the floor and the metal sleeve hit with a wooden stick. The stick itself, (usually an adapted hockey stick because of its durability,) is serrated to achieve a scraping sound effect when necessary. Although the resultant construction is heavy, requiring strength for continual use, this weight gives it a volume and clout that the more traditional versions might not match, especially in a live and loud band situation.