A report from the 60th Annual Scientific Session & Expo and I2 (Innovation and Intervention) Summit of the American College of Cardiology (April 2-5, 2011 - New Orleans, Louisiana, USA).

As jazz and indeed most music has rhythm at its very core, so does life with the heart steadily pumping blood to the body. But as in jazz rhythm, irregular rhythm is paired with changes in pitch and velocity making melody and harmony, so it is to a large extent in heart disease, with irregular rhythm, irregular pumping effectiveness, arterial stiffness and so many diverse alterations completely changing the melody of life. Pairing music with the heart makes New Orleans a very reasonable place for the American College of Cardiology's scientific session to be held. To keep pace with the rhythm and the music, the following report will complement the meeting by briefly reviewing news reported during the oral and poster sessions that have a direct impact on treatments for cardiovascular diseases and risk factors.