I'm always impressed but curious when an established artist makes a tribute album performing the works of another current musician. "Impressed" because a star is sufficiently humble and inspired to pay homage to a peer — but also "curious" in the "what are you gonna bring to the body of work that we don't already know or appreciate?" context.

Take Joan Osborne, for example, who last year released "Songs of Bob Dylan." Well, Osborne's primary instrument is piano — as opposed to Bob's typically acoustic or electric guitar — and she's got a lovely voice. So there's that. On the CD, Osborne nuances familiar as well as more obscure tracks, and she delivers thoughtful and largely familiar versions.

It's worth noting, too, that Osborne is perhaps in her element exploring other musicians' material. She's sang with the Grateful Dead and covered plenty of Motown and country hits. Her performance Saturday, then, in the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den should be interesting and varied.

Joan Osborne, 8 p.m. Saturday, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free; 1-800-745-3000.