A database management server manages a distributed data set at least partially stored in volatile memory of a plurality of nodes. The database management server stores transaction logs in persistent storage corresponding to one or more database transactions performed on the distributed data set. In response to a query, a join operation is performed with assistance from the cluster. A snapshot identifier identifies a particular database state that is transactionally consistent. Based on the transactional logs, updated data blocks updated after the snapshot identifier of the query are identified. The cluster is instructed to perform one or more distributed join operations on the distributed data set without processing data in the updated data blocks. The database management server performs a partial join evaluation on the updated data blocks.