HE HAS sold in excess of 100,000 records in his various guises, including solo projects and with his acclaimed live funk band, The Quantic Soul Orchestra and next week Will “Quantic” Holland plays a rare gig at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.

It might take him some time to get there – in 2007 Holland moved from England to Cali, Colombia's third largest city, to pursue his passion for unearthing lost treasures from Colombia's musical past and making new music with the golden array of talent available today. Upon realising the potency and sheer quality present in these players, Holland assembled his Combo Bárbaro (literally translating as 'group of barbarians or people from outside Europe’) to take up the baton from The Quantic Soul Orchestra

“Colombian music is not widely known or heard in Europe, neighbouring Brazil's musical output often eclipses the rest of Latin America in the listeners, perception of the southern continent,” explains Will.

“With the help of music writer Roberto Gyemant I began connecting and working with some of the best players in nearby Panama City – a city which had a high output of heavy funk, psychedelic guarachas and sweet soul throughout the 60s and 70s.

“I approach writing in many different ways,” WIll continues. sometimes I plan everything first, write lyrics etc… or sometimes it just happens as I go along. It’s really a mystery.”

The result is Tradition In Transition, Will’s new album.

It’s an explosive sonic snapshot of the eclectic and ever-evolving musical landscape of the Americas, played out by Will’s international cast of musical creators, including the Peruvian pianist Alfredo Linares, Brazilian arranger Arthur Verocai and British drummer Malcolm Catto – of The Heliocentrics.

Quantic & Combo Barbaro play Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on September 3 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £16 and £21.