In 1974 he appeared on an album unofficially titled Jaco with pianist Paul Bley, bassist JacoPastorius, and drummer Bruce Ditmas for Carol Goss’s Improvising Artists label. But he was unaware that he was being recorded. During the next year, he joined Gary Burton’s band with guitarist Mick Goodrick.
Metheny released his debut album, Bright Size Life (ECM, 1976) with JacoPastorius on bass guitar and Bob Moses on drums. His next album, Watercolors (ECM, 1977), was the first time he recorded with pianist Lyle Mays, who became his most frequent collaborator. The album also featured Danny Gottlieb, who became the drummer for the first version of the Pat Metheny Group.[9] With Metheny, Mays, and Gottlieb, the fourth member was bassist Mark Egan when the album Pat Metheny Group (ECM, 1978) was released.