Blue Skies Indoors at Jazz Near Jay

Review: The Ragtime Windjammers at Jazz On Jay on Thursday, July 16, 2026

Heavy with irony, the opening number – “Blue Skies” – soared anyway.

Skies gray with Wednesday’s wildfire smoke drove Jazz on Jay into Proctors GE Theatre Thursday, the Ragtime Windjammers used two subs on the gig, and longtime drummer Tim Coakley died earlier in the week.

The noon-time free show fortunately featured the most cheerful possible jazz style; “traditional jazz” from New Orleans whose pioneers invented it a century ago, but dubbed Dixieland everywhere else. 

Pianist Tim Olsen (also a capable trumpeter and trombonist and Union College jazz chief) subbed for banjoist/guitarist Ron Bill while Mark Lambert (one of three Lamberts on the bandstand with clarinetist-singer Dave and cornetist Steve) took Mike Lawrence’s spot at the upright bass behind the other Lamberts and trombonist Woody Strobeck. Anything but tentative nonetheless, the five veteran players coalesced in the hip, happy buoyancy of the first musical style I ever loved.

The Ragtime Windjammers, from left: pianist Tim Olsen, clarinetist-singer-host Dave Lambert, cornetist Steve Lambert, bassist Mark Lambert behind Steve, and trombonist Woody Strobeck.

Dave Lambert, above and below

Dave Lambert sang, played clarinet and hosted, explaining the dual origin of traditional jazz in African and European styles; also the individual tunes and those who wrote and made them famous. He cited slave ships, plantations and church hymns but lightened up by quizzing the audience and joking around. 

When he led singalongs, some worked and some didn’t. But the venerable, well-known tunes did. 

Steve Lambert, above; Woody Strobeck, below

The solos showed skill and personality. Steve Lambert’s cornet breaks were the most fluent and enterprising, while Dave Lambert’s clarinet hit the most poignant depths; a more effective player than singer. Strobeck leaned into the cartoon-y abuse of the trombone for comic purposes with cheerful, humorous playing. Olsen’s two-handed attack packed the most rhythmic fire. Bassist Mark Lambert, the other sub, was hard to hear; I was tempted to sneak up and crank his amp.

The subs: Tim Olsen, above; Mark Lambert, below

Spirited ensemble parts that introduced the tunes and comprised all-in codas worked best. When everybody ganged up on the tunes, taking them apart and putting them back together in happy jumbles, instruments darting in and out of the flow, the cats had fun and this communicated really well.

The tunes were all highlights from early pages of the Great American Songbook. Yet some performances stood out: Steve Lambert’s bouncy cornet in “When You’re Smiling,” Dave’s clarinet sweetly eloquent in “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” Strobeck’s spunky runs in “At the Jazz Band Ball,” Steve Lambert going all Louis Armstrong in the great Satchmo’s theme song “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” – both flashy and profound – the tasty piano and bass duet in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and the happy eruption of “Down By the River Side” in the middle of “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.” (New Orleans buskers charge double to fulfill requests for the over-played “Saints”…)

In a classy move at the end, Proctors employee and Jazz on Jay impresario Lanaea Bailey stopped headed-for-the-exits fans in our tracks to pay poignant moment-of-silence tribute to the late, great Tim Coakley. After playing with the Ragtime Windjammers for years, Tim had retired from the bandstand some time ago on entering a nursing home. He’d led A Place for Jazz for years, broadcast a popular Saturday night jazz show on WAMC and remained a revered figure on the music scene. Even without an introduction linking “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” to Tim, this hymn felt like the band mourning him.

The Songs:

Blue Skies

When You’re Smiling

Dr. Jazz

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Up a Lazy River

I Found a New Baby

Jada (Jada, Jing, Jing Jing)

At the Jazz Band Ball

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans

When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

Tiger Rag

Ain’t Misbehavin’

When the Saints Go Marchin’ In

Down By the River Side

Saints Reprise