Frank Ugrits - my first Bass teacher.

I really must memorialize (?!) my very first bass teacher. Frank Ugrits - originally from somewhere in Germany. At least I think so - I never actually knew. He could play - moderately well - all the strings from violin to bass, but normally he played viola. I'm not sure why that particular choice, since violists are often relegated to relatively simplistic accompaniments. At least compared to violin. And if you don't believe it, just ask a violist to play the viola part to any Strauss waltz. (I guess he thought I had talent or something, because he bequeathed me his stamp collection from the 1920's. One day I will look at that collection again.)
Anyhoo, along with taking lessons on bass every week, I actually played a few Saturday evening dances with Frank at the local German club. There, he always played violin. And anything went! Polkas, waltzes, anything the dancers asked for. No request was too small. (Of course this was for a basically German-immigrant crowd, so rock was not even considered.)
The interesting part of the job for me was learning from Frank. When he knew the tune (and he knew a lot!) he would play melody, and then play accompaniment while others played. Sometimes he would let someone else play the lead in a tune while he played accompaniment, all the way through. (And naturally I knew exactly none of those tunes. Talk about exercising your ears!) Needless to say, I got thoroughly lost most of the time. But I just thumped along in time; I guess that was enough.
But the really interesting part came when someone asked for a tune that Frank didn't know. Or when he couldn't think of anything in particular. Then - hoho - watch out. He would name a key, give a count-in, and we were away. He would make up everything. Melody, accompaniment, introduction, verse, chorus, trio to a waltz; always in proper form, with trios or bridges with correct modulations, and in properly related keys, etc. To me it was amazing. What's more, it always sounded exactly like Strauss!
I think I could do that now, after all these years, but I'm still not sure I could do it as well as Frank Ugrits.