Chick Corea conceived 'The Continents' as a six-movement suite representing the Earth's continents musically, inspired by his travels and global cultural diversity. The work was composed for a jazz sextet with a string section and additional percussion.
The album was recorded at Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles and at Corea's studio in Florida, featuring musicians such as saxophonist Tim Garland, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade. The suite includes movements dedicated to Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania.
Released on March 20, 2012 by Concord Jazz, 'The Continents' received positive reviews for its compositional ambition and fusion of classical elements with contemporary jazz. Corea performed the suite live in several cities worldwide during the promotional tour.