BUTLER TWP — After a year-and-a-half absence, the Butler County Symphony Orchestra came out swinging in its Great Ladies of Swing concert Saturday night in the Butler Intermediate High School Auditorium.

Headliner Dee Daniels and Maestro Mathew Kraemer led the orchestra on a romp through enduring musical standards that had the audience snapping their fingers, tapping their toes and bouncing in their seats. Daniels’ four-octave vocal range and wry humor sparkled as brightly as her shimmering gowns.

The orchestra joyfully stepped up to the plate, playing a style of music that, while not unfamiliar to their ears, was new musical territory for most of them to play. Songs with wild tempo changes and elaborate rhythms were beautifully balanced with lilting ballads and sentimental favorites.

Daniels skillfully navigated “There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” “Fever,” “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” cracking jokes along the way. Then, she totally reversed the mood by paying tribute to the incredible Billie Holiday with a heart-rending vocal and piano arrangement of “God Bless the Child.”

A medley of “It’s All Right With Me,” “Summertime,” “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” beautifully honored the enduring legacy of Ella Fitzgerald.

Rounding out the first half with “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” and an extra jazzy rendition of “Mack the Knife” displayed Daniels’ unequaled vocal calisthenics, as well as the facility of the orchestra.

The contrast of the sweet melody of “I Hear Music” with a sexy Latin beat was both surprising and pleasing as Daniels embellished the melody with all four octaves of her astounding voice.

“Gimme A Pigfoot” celebrated the Harlem tradition of “rent parties,” when whole neighborhoods would come together to help gather money for rent payments. While less familiar than the rest of the program, the piece was exuberant in the best jazz tradition and featured excellent solos by trumpeter Jim Cunningham and trombonist Robert Machett.

“Makin’ Whoopee” was irresistible as Daniels mugged and shimmied to add to the fun. In another nod to Ella Fitzgerald, “A Tisket A Tasket,” Daniels got the audience into the act by having the audience shouting the lyrics.

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” by Antonio Jobim injected a moment of serenity with a gentle Latin beat before the Broadway hit “Send In The Clowns.”

Closing the evening with the perennially popular Bill Baily Daniels and the orchestra swung for the bleachers and hit a home run.

Performers and audience alike had a smashing evening with the Great Ladies of Swing.