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About the Album Festival Canceled Due To Heavy Rain, is a musiclogue of Lama Choyin Rangdrol’s pilgrimage to the Cambodian monuments of Angkor. Each selection marks a moment in the Lama’s journey with a unique combination of jazz, classical, and R&B styles blended with musical elements of Cambodia’s traditional orchestra, the pinpeat. The instruments of the pinpeat orchestra include the Ching (finger cymbals), bamboo xylophone, large gong, and sampho (hand drum) influenced by the music of India. This rich mixture of urban American music and ancient Cambodia ensemble tells the story of connections, contributions and horrors like no other. Thus, creating a bridge of commonality between Asia and the West that Lama Rangdrol has pioneered in his writings and teachings over the past decade.
The Music 1. Chiang Mai Moon – Most Westerners access Cambodia through Thailand’s international airport. During a brief respite in Chiang Mai before embarking to Angkor, Lama glimpsed the full moon breaching the cloud filled monsoon sky. This music was inspired by that moment. (Smooth Jazz) 2. Thousand Linga River – In 790 AD Cambodian Buddhist prince, Jayavarman II returned to his native land from Java, where he had 3. Hotel del La Paix (Hotel of Peace) – The Hotel del la Paix is in the heart of Siem Reap, the city adjacent to the Angkor monuments. Its guests are invited to connect with local Khmer families in a dignified way with the goal of fostering cross-cultural understanding and intercultural sensitivity. This selection commemorates a performance by local youth playing music and dancing in the traditional folk style of the Khmer people observed by Lama during his visit. (Cambodian Folk)
4. Dreamy Elephant – Sandstone from Kulen Mountain was transported by 4,000 elephants to construct the colossal monuments of Angkor 25 miles away. This selection considers the dreamy state of mind Lama imagines the elephants had while towing the multi-ton stones. (Jazz Funk)
6. Black Buddha - The Khmer people are a distinct
9. Festival Cancelled – Between 1965 and 1973 the United States dropped 2,756,941 tons of bombs on the small Buddhist country of Cambodia. This is more than all the bombs dropped during World War II, including the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This selection depicts a festival coming to an abrupt end as silver birds roar across the sk 10. Sopaul’s Lament - Angkor is a vast complex of some 1,000 temples covering more than 60 square miles of northern Cambodia. In addition to the killing fields, land mines, and absence of schools, the Cambodia people are troubled with sex trade, disease, lack of electricity, lack of medical care, unsafe drinking water, and loss of the Khmer culture and language (Sanskrit). Departing from Cambodia was a tearful experience. Lama Rangdrol was asked to share the plight of the local people. (Classical) 11. What We Didn’t Learn – By the time America’s secret air war in Cambodia became known (1973) great damage had already been done. The
click a selection to hear a sample
Proceeds go to support Rainbowhdarma's Cambodia Project All music written and performed by Lama Rangdrol
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been in captivity or exile. In 802, amid the Kulen Mountain forest where river waters flow from artesian springs, Jayavarman II defied the Javanese and asserted his authority as King of Cambodia and unified the Khmer people. Three hundred years later, King Suryavarman I, a Cambodian Hindu, claimed the throne. Suryavarman I had artisans carve over a thousand lingam/yoni desig
5. Bangkok Train
cultural group who rightly claim the legacy of Angkor’s magnificent contribution to world heritage. The presence of black people in ancient Asia is also an undeniable fact. Black people and Buddhism in Asia have a shared legacy. Lama Rangdrol blends American R&B sound with percussive support from the Cambodian sampho (hand drum) to symbolize this connection.(Jazz/R&B)
7. Jungle Dread
8. Kulen Mountain
y and a deluge of unlikely raindrops pound the spirit of people caught unaware. To be greeted today by the warmth and welcoming smiles of those whose festival was canceled in the past says much about the Buddhist legacy of forgiveness and peace that dwells in their hearts. (World) 
Khmer Rouge insurgency had grown to two hundred thousand troops and militia forces, which led to the fall of Phnom Penh. Angered by the bombardment, many Cambodians lost concern for geopolitics and became enemies of the attackers. That anger also turned inward prompting an unprecedented genocide of 1.7 million Cambodian people by their fellow countrymen. (New Age/World) 
12. The Procession
to peace amid warring nations. Once a month he held a celebrative procession among his people that included an entourage of 500 people, musicians, dancers, cavalry, chariots, elephants, and his personal bodyguard comprised entirely of women holding shields and lances. His Buddhist dynasty of peace for the Khmer people lasted throughout his life and is revered today as a symbol of the Cambodian spirit of resiliency, strength, and legacy of forgiveness and peace. May his procession continue throughout time as a reminder of his legacy of humanity and peace. (World) 