Not a Given is the new album from Dutch blues guitarist and singer Mark van Mourik, released in October 2026 and marking, in his own words, a new chapter in his musical life. Van Mourik handles guitar and lead vocals, joined by Wolfgang Roggenkamp on Hammond organ, Wurlitzer and backing vocals, Dave Breidenbach on bass and backing vocals, and Peter Weissink on drums and percussion. Recorded at Woodstock Recording Studio in the Netherlands, the eight tracks blend blues with touches of jazz, funk, and soul. The songs feature strong guitar, heartfelt vocals, a locked-in rhythm section, and an occasional warm, swirling Hammond B3.
The album wastes no time setting the atmosphere. “Blame It On The Water” is an instant mood-establisher, a funky blues path you can’t help but wander down, no matter what waits at the end—whether it’s a good time, a bad time, temptation or redemption—you know something is coming. The title track, “Not a Given”, is its strongest moment: the first voice you hear is van Mourik’s piercing guitar, acting almost like a needle pulling the thread of the vocals, the two weaving in and out of real emotional depth. It’s the kind of song that could handle many interpreters, each finding their own voice. “Just One More Blues Song” settles into a nice steady beat and a soul-blues shrug that isn’t trying to solve the world’s problems, just accepting reality—a reminder that living the blues is not always a cry for help, sometimes it’s just the way it is. Then “Keeps Me Up” brings a New Orleans collection of musical spices, with Roggenkamp’s Hammond B3 and Breidenbach’s funky bass line delivering that post-2 a.m. energy.
The second half is where the album really takes off. “Mistreated” is the down-in-the-depths song you’ve been hoping to find, a slow burner where you just want to say take your time, and blissfully, van Mourik does. “Not So Kind” turns the dial back up, a blues song that makes you want to get up and move, thanks to a rhythm section of Breidenbach and Weissink that leans hard on the beat while the guitar and Hammond fill the spaces within it, accentuating the groove. “We Get Up” is captivating in its rhythm once again, a smolder that builds until the chorus, when it becomes a nice burn. Finally, “One Last Song” closes the album with a long, savoring “ooh, yeah”, a touching ballad that inspires commitment on a whole lot of levels, to a whole lot of good things.
Not a Given is a warm, groove-heavy and heartfelt record. Van Mourik’s guitar and voice combine effortlessly, and his band makes every beat count, from the funky swagger of the opener to the tender farewell of the closer. It’s a blues album that knows when to smolder, when to burn, when to simply take its time, and it marks a promising new chapter for its leader.
