Internal Compass

Artistic Director and Founder, Ehud Ettun.

Characteristics:
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Ehud Ettun, an Israeli bassist, composer and entrepreneur who has been active in the local and international jazz scene for over a decade. He began his musical career in high school at IASA (Israeli Arts and Science Academy), and soon after, in parallel with his military service, completed his bachelor’s degree in classical performance at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. Ettun became known for his unique approach to Contrabass as a melodic instrument, and not just as a supporting one. His uniquely developed technique over the years have made him a sought after bassist around the world.

From an outside perspective, some would say has taken an opposite track to that of most musicians. His first album, ‘Hatzai Tzvaim, Hatzai Kolot’, was a great success in the Israeli mainstream. It was then that he decided to leave the country for a master’s degree in jazz at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston. The land of unlimited possibilities – USA – received him with open arms. He collaborated with first-rate jazz musicians such as George Garzon, Fred Hersch, Danilo Perez, Donnie McCaslin, Anat Cohen, Eli Degibri and others. Ettun performs throughout the world – from the Blue Note in New York to festivals in Japan and South Korea. Again, with surprising timing, he returned to Israel about five years ago due to the fierce election campaign of 2014 in Israel to pursue establishing ambitious projects on the line between music and society.
In an interview with Ettun he said “It just felt like the right thing.”

Already in the US he founded Internal Compass. What started as an independent label became a kind of “umbrella” under which many projects focused on music as a tool for social change are incorporated: Jerusalem – a framework for high school students, outstanding jazzers, who volunteer in the community through music every week – The Internal Compass Institute in collaboration with Sapir College, a summer seminar led by guest artists from all over the world, a winter jazz conference and more.

Motives for project development:
In the current reality, and especially in the music world, success is seen as something very individual. The way in which young musicians perceive a “successful” musician seems to be a very separate, not involved in the community, not teaching music but only performing perceptive. The foundation of the project is the belief that this model of a musician has lost its relevance in society – instead musicians, artists and educators can be at the forefront of solving global problems of polarization, animosity, intolerance and violence. We believe and hope that the success of our program graduates will be a different model of artists, as agents of social change, community and the world.

Job Description: Founder and Artistic Director.
Ettun has the artistic vision and is the one implementing it in the field. He is an integral part of the ongoing and day-to-day management of the various projects and at the same time continues to develop and advance the project into exciting new directions. Ettun carefully selects the visiting artists, teachers and staff, as well as the students who are accepted into the program. He is responsible for developing relationships with institutions and organizations around the world and for creating new collaborations with international musicians with similar vision.