Most sophisticated and intelligent musician


Let's stay with not classical musicians.
It's John McLaughlin for me.
inna
Lyrically, Beck's stuff on Odeley was sick smart. I'd also add Paul Simon and Tom Waits for lyrics. Theo, props on Gilmour for his beautiful phrasing on guitar...he hits licks and subtleties that one cannot imagine being played any other way.
I interpreted the post as asking about traits of the person, not of their music.

So I did not include intelligent musicians that do not come across as sophisticated in general as people, even if I might think their music is sophisticated as a result of their intelligence .
This is silly but ...
1. Leonard Cohen
2. Bob Dylan
3. Jon Anderson
4. Joni Mitchel
5. Laurie Anderson

My vote is a DEFINATE NO on Kurt Cobain on the intelligence
measure.