A legendary jazzman and music teacher was honored with his all-star band Friday evening in Washington.

Drummer Roger Humphries and his All Stars were applauded during a reception at Pamlico House Bed & Breakfast on East Main Street.

Humphries has played with the likes of singer-bandleader Ray Charles, pianist-composer Horace Silver and numerous others.

Still a touring musician after more than four decades in the field, Humphries recently retired from teaching at a performing-arts school in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Asked for his impression of the way he was received here, Humphries replied, “It’s been grand. It’s just real Southern hospitality, I can tell you that much.”

The dinner-hour gathering was preparatory to a slew of events featuring Humphries and his bandmates, who were scheduled to give a concert Saturday night at the Turnage Theater.

The concert was to be preceded Saturday afternoon by a free, open-to-the-public master class targeting young musicians at the Turnage.

Humphries and his musicians were set to be on hand to play for and inspire anyone who turned out to listen and interact with the players.

On Friday, Humphries and his aggregation were introduced by Larry Turner, founder and president of the nonprofit East Coast Jazz Revue, which calls Washington home.

Humphries and his fellow musicians, including internationally recognized vocalist Spanky Wilson, were welcomed by Washington Mayor Archie Jennings on the front porch of Pamlico House.

“It’s a beautiful setting, a great turnout,” said Jennings, who also thanked Humphries for returning to the city after his first concert at the Turnage in January.

“We welcome you back, we know you’re going to have a great show,” Jennings told Humphries.

“We really appreciate this addition to the Washington art community and it’s just, going forward, giving us a greater reputation as a great venue for art,” Jennings concluded.

In an interview, Humphries confirmed his Washington welcome was unusual in comparison to the manner in which he’s received elsewhere.

“It’s very warm here,” he said. “The people bring you into their homes. With all this warmth and food and everything č they’re such nice people and everything.”

Asked whether he fears jazz is a dying art, Humphries responded with an emphatic, “Never.”

“Never, because we have too many people supporting it,” he said. “And now we’ve got it in our schools. It’s something that will live forever, man.”

Humphries’ new CD, due out by the end of the month, seems to allude to his philosophy of the jazz future. The title of that CD is “Keep the Faith.”

Friday’s reception was hosted by Virginia Finnerty, a jazz fan and owner of Pamlico House.

The occasion also was attended by Floyd Brothers, a supporter of East Coast Jazz Revue and a former Washington mayor.

“I see some progress each time,” Brothers said of Jazz Revue concerts.

And, of jazz music, he added, “I listen to it all the time.”